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From: mld@netcom.com (Matthew Deter)
Subject: Re: What the hell are fifos?
Message-ID: <mldCxBGvD.MCw@netcom.com>
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
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References: <367k82$c5o@homer.cs.mcgill.ca>
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 1994 19:01:59 GMT
Lines: 49
I am not an expert by any stretch, but no one else has replied, so
here goes....
First, a FIFO is a "first in first out" buffer. Think of it like the
line at the supermarket. There are LIFO's (Last in First Out) and
other types of buffers as well.
In Unix, FIFO's are also called "named pipes" which are mechanisms
for different process to communicate with each other. one process
sticks something in the FIFO (pipe) and it comes out the other end --
which a second process is attached to. In this way two process can
pass info through the "pipe" to each other.
Colin BRADLEY (fox@cs.mcgill.ca) wrote:
: mkfifo: //var/spool/fax/FIFO: Operation not supported
This appears to be the root of the problem. Flexfax wants to set up
a named pipe for doing IPC (inter process communication) and your
kernel is choking on the request to make the pipe. The "//" looks
suspicious. Maybe it should be "/var/spool/fax/FIFO" without the //.
I don't run NetBSD nor have I dealt with FlexFAX (yet) so I can't be
of more help...
: chown: //var/spool/fax/FIFO: No such file or directory
: chgrp: //var/spool/fax/FIFO: No such file or directory
: chmod: //var/spool/fax/FIFO: No such file or directory.
These are all caused by the fact that the above call failed and there
is nothing to operate on. (the FIFO isn't present)
: I'm actually using the FreeBSD configuration, which calls
: the bsdi install script.. I had no problems during the build,
: it's just the install...
I'm wondering if NetBSD supports FIFO's? I do not know. I also do
not know if it is a configurable kernel parameter. If it is, maybe it
is not enabled. Maybe someone else in net.land knows. Maybe the
FAQ?
I don't think i solved your problem, but hopefulyl I've helped...
If you resolve the problem, please post.
--
$$ Matthew Deter -- mld@netcom.com
$$$$
$$ "Whatever road I take, the guiding star is within me; the guiding
$$$$ star and the loadstone which point the way. They point in but
$$ one direction. They point to me."
$$$$
$$ -- from the novel _Anthem_ by Ayn Rand