INTRO(4)               OpenBSD Programmer's Manual (VAX)              INTRO(4)

NAME
     intro - introduction to special files and hardware support

DESCRIPTION
     This section describes the special files, related driver functions, and
     networking support available in the system.  In this part of the manual,
     the SYNOPSIS section of each configurable device gives a sample specifi-
     cation for use in constructing a system description for the config(8)
     program.  The DIAGNOSTICS section lists messages which may appear on the
     console and/or in the system error log /var/log/messages due to errors in
     device operation; see syslogd(8) for more information.

VAX DEVICE SUPPORT
     This section describes the hardware supported on the DEC VAX. Software
     support for these devices comes in two forms.  A hardware device may be
     supported with a character or block device driver, or it may be used
     within the networking subsystem and have a network interface driver.
     Block and character devices are accessed through files in the file system
     of a special type; see mknod(8). Network interfaces are indirectly ac-
     cessed through the interprocess communication facilities provided by the
     system; see socket(2).

     A hardware device is identified to the system at configuration time and
     the appropriate device or network interface driver is then compiled into
     the system.  When the resultant system is booted, the autoconfiguration
     facilities in the system probe for the device and, if found, enable the
     software support for it.  If a UNIBUS device does not respond at autocon-
     figuration time it is not accessible at any time afterwards.  To enable a
     UNIBUS device which did not autoconfigure, the system will have to be re-
     booted.  If a MASSBUS device comes ``on-line'' after the autoconfigura-
     tion sequence it will be dynamically autoconfigured into the running sys-
     tem.

     The autoconfiguration system is described in autoconf(4). A list of the
     supported devices is given below.

SEE ALSO
     autoconf(4), intro(4), netintro(4), config(8)

     "Building 4.3 BSD UNIX Systems with Config", SMM, 2.

LIST OF DEVICES
     The devices listed below are supported in this incarnation of the system.
     Pseudo-devices are not listed.  Devices are indicated by their functional
     interface.  If second vendor products provide functionally identical
     interfaces they should be usable with the supplied software.  Beware,
     however, that we promise the software works ONLY with the hardware
     indicated on the appropriate manual page.   Occasionally, new devices of
     a similar type may be added simply by creating appropriate table entries
     in the driver.

           dz       DZ-11 terminal multiplexer.
           ibus     Internal bus on MicroVAX, VAX 4000 series, and otheres
           le       LANCE ethernet interface.
           mem      Main memory interface.
           mscpbus  Mass Storage Control Protocol interface.
           mt       MSCP tape drive interface.
           ncr      NCR 5380 SCSI controller
           rx       DEC floppy interface.
           vsbus    VAXstation internal ``bus''.
           ze       SGEC ethernet interface.

HISTORY
     The section 4 intro appeared in 4.1BSD.

OpenBSD 2.9                     March 27, 1991                               1
