---
name: "ossdevlinks"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "oss4-base"
version: "4.2-build2010-2"
release: "Debian 8 (Jessie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ossdevlinks"
---

# ossdevlinks(8)

Open Sound System legacy device management utility.

## NAME

**ossdevlinks** - Open Sound System legacy device management utility.

## SYNOPSIS

```
ossdevlinks [-vr]
```

## DESCRIPTION

**The ossdevlinks utility creates and manages old style (legacy) device files** **for OSS audio, MIDI and mixer devices.**

**In previous versioms OSS used "flat" device numbering for the device files** **(for example /dev/dsp0 to /dev/dspN). OSS version 4.0 and later uses different** **naming scheme. The ossdevlinks utility is used to manage the legacy device** **names as symbolic links to the new style devices.**

## OPTIONS

**Normally ossdevlinks is used without command line arguments. However** **there are a few command line options.**

- **-f\<name\>**

  **Write legacydev file to \<fname\>.**

- **-N**

  **Do not actually modify device files**

- **-r**

  **Reset the legacy device numbering (do not use).**

- **-v**

  **Verbose output**

**The -r option may invalidate audio device selections in the setup files** **of various applications. This is considered highly undesirable. Applications** **using wrong audio devices may cause serious security and privacy problems.** **For this reason the -r option should never be used unless there are no other** **ways to recover from serious audio/sound related problems. After that users** **should review the audio settings of all the audio applications they are using.**

## SEE ALSO

**[ossinfo(1)](/ossinfo/1.md)**

## FILES

**/usr/sbin/ossdevlinks** **/var/lib/oss4/legacy\_devices** **/dev/dspN** **/dev/midiNN** **/dev/mixerN**

## AUTHOR

**4Front Technologies**