Why the file /dev/console is so difficult to copy?

Xiangbuilder · 09-06-2003, 08:06 PM

This file is very small, however, it seems can't be copyed.
I run:
[root@localhost root]# cp /dev/console /john/dev
but the process seems can't be finished.

I want to copy this file because I want to set up a distribution by copying some files from a existed distribution to a new partition, and some other works. To do this, the file /dev/console is necessage, maybe.

Thank you.

trickykid · 09-06-2003, 09:13 PM

I don't think you understand what the /dev directory is really. All your hardware is represented by a file and it will reside in /dev. You can't just simply copy a device file with cp.

man mkdev for more details about creating devices. And also /dev is sort of like a psuedo type filesystem. Its created when you boot up and dissapears when you shutdown.. etc.