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3.2.5. The most common devices
Devices, generally every peripheral attachment of a PC that is not the CPU itself, is presented to the system as an entry in the /dev directory. One of the advantages of this UNIX-way of handling devices is that neither the user nor the system has to worry much about the specification of devices.
Users that are new to Linux or UNIX in general are often overwhelmed by the amount of new names and concepts they have to learn. That is why a list of common devices is included in this introduction.
Table 3-4. Common devices
Name | Device |
cdrom | CD drive |
console | Special entry for the currently used console. |
cua* | Serial ports |
dsp* | Devices for sampling and recording |
fd* | Entries for most kinds of floppy drives, the default is /dev/fd0, a floppy drive for 1.44 MB floppies. |
hd[a-t][1-16] | Standard support for IDE drives with maximum amount of partitions each. |
ir* | Infrared devices |
isdn* | Management of ISDN connections |
js* | Joystick(s) |
lp* | Printers |
mem | Memory |
midi* | midi player |
mixer* and music | Idealized model of a mixer (combines or adds signals) |
modem | Modem |
mouse (also msmouse, logimouse, psmouse, input/mice, psaux) | All kinds of mouses |
null | Bottomless garbage can |
par* | Entries for parallel port support |
pty* | Pseudo terminals |
radio* | For Radio Amateurs (HAMs). |
ram* | boot device |
sd* | SCSI disks with their partitions |
sequencer | For audio applications using the synthesizer features of the sound card (MIDI-device controller) |
tty* | Virtual consoles simulating vt100 terminals. |
usb* | USB card and scanner |
video* | For use with a graphics card supporting video. |