---
name: "devfs.conf"
section: "5"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/devfs.conf"
---

# devfs.conf(5)

boot-time devfs configuration information

## NAME

**devfs.conf** – boot-time devfs configuration information

## DESCRIPTION

The **devfs.conf** file provides an easy way to set ownership and permissions, or create links for devices available at boot.

It does not work for devices plugged in and out after the system is up and running, e.g. USB devices. See [devfs.rules(5)](/devfs.rules/5.md) for setting ownership and permissions for all device nodes, and [devd.conf(5)](/devd.conf/5.md) for actions to be taken when devices are attached or detached.

Lines starting with a hash sign (‘#’) and empty lines are ignored. The lines that specify **devfs.conf** rules consist of three parameters separated by whitespace:

- *action*

  The action to take for the device. The action names are only significant to the first unique character.

- *devname*

  The name of the device created by [devfs(4)](/devfs/4.md).

- *arg*

  The argument of the *action*.

The actions currently supported are:

- **link**

  This action creates a symbolic link named *arg* that points to *devname*, the name of the device created by [devfs(4)](/devfs/4.md).

- **own**

  This action changes the ownership of *devname*. The *arg* parameter must be in the form of an *owner*:*group* pair, in the same format used by [chown(8)](/chown/8.md).

- **perm**

  This action changes the permissions of *devname*. The *arg* parameter must be a *mode* as explained in [chmod(1)](/chmod/1.md).

## FILES

- */etc/devfs.conf*

  - */usr/share/examples/etc/devfs.conf*

  ## EXAMPLES

To create a */dev/cdrom* link that points to the first CD-ROM, the following may be added to **devfs.conf**:

```
link	cd0	cdrom
```

To set the owner of a device, the **own** action may be specified:

```
own	cd0	root:cdrom
```

To set the permissions of a device, a **perm** action should be used:

```
perm	cd0	0660
```

## SEE ALSO

[chmod(1)](/chmod/1.md), [devfs(4)](/devfs/4.md), [devd.conf(5)](/devd.conf/5.md), [devfs.rules(5)](/devfs.rules/5.md), [chown(8)](/chown/8.md)

## AUTHORS

This manual page was written by Roland Smith ⟨*rsmith@xs4all.nl*⟩.