lofi(7D) Devices lofi(7D)NAMElofi - Loopback file driver
DESCRIPTION
The lofi file driver exports a file as a block device. Reads and writes
to the block device are translated to reads and writes on the underly‐
ing file. This is useful when the file contains a file system image.
Exporting it as a block device through the lofi file driver allows
normal system utilities to operate on the image through the block
device (like fstyp(1M)fsck(1M), and mount(1M). This is useful for
accessing CD-ROM and FAT floppy images. See lofiadm(1M) for examples.
File block device entries are contained in /dev/lofi, while /dev/rlofi
contains the character (or raw) device entries. Entries are in the form
of decimal numbers which are assigned through lofiadm(1M). When cre‐
ated, these device entries are owned by root, in group sys, and have
permissions 0600. While ownership, group, and permission settings can
be altered, there are possible ramifications. See lofiadm(1M) for more
information.
FILES
/dev/lofictl
Master control device
/dev/lofi/n
Block device for file n
/dev/rlofi/n
Character device for file n
/kernel/drv/lofi
32-bit driver
/kernel/drv/lofi.conf
Driver configuration file. (Should not be altered.)
/kernel/drv/sparcv9/lofi
64-bit driver
ATTRIBUTES
See attributes(5) for descriptions of the following attributes:
┌─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────┐
│ ATTRIBUTE TYPE │ ATTRIBUTE VALUE │
├─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────┤
│Availability │SUNWcsr, SUNWcarx.u │
└─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────┘
SEE ALSOlofiadm(1M), fsck(1M), fstyp(1M), mount(1M), newfs(1M), attributes(5),
lofs(7FS)NOTES
Just as you would not directly access a disk device that has mounted
file systems, you should not access a file associated with a block
device except through the lofi file driver.
For compatability purposes, a raw device is also exported along with
the block device. For example, newfs(1M) requires one.
SunOS 5.10 30 Jul 1999 lofi(7D)
