Devices                                                  lofi(7D)



NAME
     lofi - Loopback file driver

DESCRIPTION
     The lofi file driver exports a file as a block device,  ena-
     bling  system  utilities  such  as  fstyp(1M),  fsck(1M) and
     mount(1M)  to  operate  on  underlying  file  system  images
     (including  CD-ROM  and  FAT floppy images) contained on the
     block device. Reads and  writes  to  the  block  device  are
     translated  to  reads  and  writes on the exported file. See
     lofiadm(1M) for examples.


     File block device entries are contained  in  /dev/lofi.  The
     /dev/rlofi  file  contains  the  character  (or  raw) device
     entries. Entries are in the  form of  decimal   numbers  and
     are  assigned   through   lofiadm(1M).  When  created, these
     device entries are owned by root, in group sys and have per-
     missions  of 0600. Ownership, group, and permission settings
     can be altered, however  there  may  be  ramifications.  See
     lofiadm(1M) for more information.


     lofi devices can be compressed.  See  lofiadm(1M)  for  more
     information.


     Files exported through  lofi  can  also  be  encrypted.  See
     lofiadm(1M) for details on how to specify encryption keys.

FILES
     /dev/lofictl

         Master control device


     /dev/lofi/n

         Block device for file n


     /dev/rlofi/n

         Character device for file n


     /kernel/drv/lofi

         32-bit driver






SunOS 5.11          Last change: 25 Nov 2008                    1






Devices                                                  lofi(7D)



     /kernel/drv/sparcv9/lofi

         64-bit driver (SPARC)


     /kernel/drv/amd64/lofi

         64-bit driver (x86)


     /kernel/drv/lofi.conf

         Driver configuration file. (Do not alter).


ATRIBUTES
     See attributes(5) for a description of the following  attri-
     butes:



     
           ATRIBUTE TYPE               ATRIBUTE VALUE       
    
     Architecture                 SPARC, x86                  
    
     Availability                 SUNWcsr, SUNWcarx.u         
    
     Interface Stability          Committed                   
    


SEE ALSO
     fstyp(1M),  fsck(1M),  mount(1M),  lofiadm(1M),   newfs(1M),
     attributes(5), lofs(7FS)

NOTES
     Just as you would not directly access a disk device that has
     mounted  file  systems, you should not access a file associ-
     ated with a  block  device  except  through  the  lofi  file
     driver.


     For compatibility purposes, a raw device  is  also  exported
     with the block device. (For example, newfs(1M)).


     The lofi driver isn't available in a zone and will not  work
     inside a zone.






SunOS 5.11          Last change: 25 Nov 2008                    2