"root" (/) file system
The "root" (/) file system takes full advantage of the stream file support and hierarchical directory structure of the integrated file system. It has the characteristics of the DOS and OS/2 file systems.
In addition, it:
- Is optimized for stream file input and output.
- Supports multiple hard links and symbolic links.
- Supports local sockets.
- Supports threadsafe APIs.
- Supports *FIFO objects.
- Supports the /dev/null and /dev/zero *CHRSF objects as well as other *CHRSF objects.
- Supports the journaling of object changes.
- Supports the scanning of objects using the integrated file system scan-related exit points.
The "root" (/) file system has support for the character special files (*CHRSF) called /dev/null and /dev/zero. Character special files are associated with a device or resource of a computer system. They have path names that appear in directories and have the same access protection as regular files. The /dev/null or /dev/zero character special files are always empty, and any data written to /dev/null or /dev/zero is discarded. The files /dev/null and /dev/zero have an object type of *CHRSF and can be used like regular files, except that no data is ever read in the/dev/null file, and the /dev/zero file always returns successfully with the data cleared to zeros.
Accessing the "root" (/) file system
The "root" (/) file system can be accessed through the integrated file system interface using either the IBM® i file server or the integrated file system commands, user displays, and APIs.