Re: About mknod and mkfifo

[email protected] (Bob Proulx) Thu, 19 Jun 2003 22:59:11 -0600
Newsgroups gmane.comp.gnu.fileutils.bugs
Message-ID <[email protected]>
Han Jian-feng-Q16072 wrote:
> How to use mknod and mkfifo in current version,it seems that the two
> functions are not implemented,is it right?

Not implemented in the operating system.  No.  Implemented in the
utilities.  Yes.  The utilities implement this functionality on
operating systems which implement that functionality.

> I want to FIFO in cygwin(fileutilities version is 4.1.1).

You did not say but since you are using Cygwin you are probably
running on MS-Windows.  Cygwin is a port of GNU Project software to
MS-Windows.

The Cygwin software port mostly emulates the features of GNU and
UNIX-like systems.  But as the colloquial expression goes, you can't
make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.  You are still using MS-Windows
even in the wrapping of the Cygwin environment.  MS-Windows does not
to my knowledge support FIFOs.  (Although I don't really use the
systems much and my information there is limited.)  Therefore the GNU
utilities from the GNU operating system ported MS-Windows can't do
anything about it.  You would need to get support for named pipes
(FIFOs) in the operating system before application software can use
them.

Good Luck,
Bob