Re: mkfifo

[Bob Proulx]

> mkfifo --version:
> mkfifo (GNU fileutils) 4.0
> 
> umask -a
> Linux hades 2.2.16 #1 Wed Aug 9 11:36:58 MEST 2000 i686 unknown
[...]
> I can not create a named pipe with mkfifo. if i enter the command:  'mkfifo
> fifo', just an ordinary file will be created...
> ls -l
> -rw-r--r--   1 sg       users           0 Oct 16 09:25 fifo
> 
> .. it's the same with the 'C' function.
> 
> Can you help me with this ?

Strange.  The mkfifo program basically just calls mkfifo(), the POSIX
library function, which basically calls mknod() the system call.  You
mention that a C program can't make a named pipe either.  It sounds
like something in your OS is broken.  You might try creating a pipe
the old fashioned way with "mknod".

The mknod system call and associated program are used to create
"special" files.  On UNIX special files are those like device files,
pipes and other non-regular files.

Try this:

  rm fifo
  mknod fifo p

If that fails to create a pipe then certainly something is wrong with
the OS.  If mknod creates a pipe but mkfifo does not then I suspect
something in libc.

Bob