devfree(1M)                                              devfree(1M)


       NAME
             devfree - release devices from exclusive use

       SYNOPSIS
             devfree key [device . . . ]

          Arguments
             key     Designates the unique key on which the device was
                     reserved.

             device  Defines device that this command will release from
                     exclusive use.  Can be the pathname of the device or
                     the device alias.

       DESCRIPTION
             devfree releases devices from exclusive use.  Exclusive use is
             requested with the command devreserv.

             When devfree is invoked with only the key argument, it
             releases all devices that have been reserved for that key.
             When called with key and device arguments, devfree releases
             the specified devices that have been reserved with that key.

          Files
             /etc/device.tab
             /etc/devlkfile

          Return Values
             devfree returns one of the following values:

             0     Successful completion of the task.

             1     Command syntax incorrect, invalid option used, or
                   internal error occurred.

             2     Device table or device reservation table could not be
                   opened for reading.

             3     Reservation release could not be completely fulfilled
                   because one or more of the devices was not reserved or
                   was not reserved on the specified key.

       USAGE
             The commands devreserv and devfree are used to manage the
             availability of devices on a system.  These commands do not
             place any constraints on the access to the device.  They serve


                           Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc.               Page 1

      devfree(1M)                                              devfree(1M)


            only as a centralized bookkeeping point for those who wish to
            use them.  Processes that do not use devreserv may
            concurrently use a device with a process that has reserved
            that device.

      REFERENCES
            devreserv(1M)









































                          Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc.               Page 2