mknod(1) - man - phpman

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⚡ TLDR: mknod (tldr-pages)

Create block or character device special files.

Create a block device
sudo mknod {{path/to/device_file}} b {{major_device_number}} {{minor_device_number}}
Create a character device
sudo mknod {{path/to/device_file}} c {{major_device_number}} {{minor_device_number}}
Create a FIFO (queue) device
sudo mknod {{path/to/device_file}} p
Create a device file with default SELinux security context
sudo mknod {{-Z|--context}} {{path/to/device_file}} {{type}} {{major_device_number}} {{minor_device_number}}

MKNOD(1)                                    User Commands                                   MKNOD(1)



NAME
       mknod - make block or character special files

SYNOPSIS
       mknod [OPTION]... NAME TYPE [MAJOR MINOR]

DESCRIPTION
       Create the special file NAME of the given TYPE.

       Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.

       -m, --mode=MODE
              set file permission bits to MODE, not a=rw - umask

       -Z     set the SELinux security context to default type

       --context[=CTX]
              like -Z, or if CTX is specified then set the SELinux or SMACK security context to CTX

       --help display this help and exit

       --version
              output version information and exit

       Both MAJOR and MINOR must be specified when TYPE is b, c, or u, and they must be omitted when
       TYPE is p.  If MAJOR or MINOR begins with 0x or 0X, it is interpreted as hexadecimal;  other‐
       wise, if it begins with 0, as octal; otherwise, as decimal.  TYPE may be:

       b      create a block (buffered) special file

       c, u   create a character (unbuffered) special file

       p      create a FIFO

       NOTE:  your shell may have its own version of mknod, which usually supersedes the version de‐
       scribed here.  Please refer to your shell's documentation for details about  the  options  it
       supports.

AUTHOR
       Written by David MacKenzie.

REPORTING BUGS
       GNU coreutils online help: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>
       Report any translation bugs to <https://translationproject.org/team/>

COPYRIGHT
       Copyright  ©  2020 Free Software Foundation, Inc.  License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later
       <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>.
       This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.  There is NO WARRANTY,  to
       the extent permitted by law.

SEE ALSO
       mknod(2)

       Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/mknod>
       or available locally via: info '(coreutils) mknod invocation'



GNU coreutils 8.32                          January 2026                                    MKNOD(1)