From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!csu-cs!silver
Newsgroups: net.unix-wizards
Title: Why does mknod(1m) require real uid == 0?
Article-I.D.: csu-cs.2032
Posted: Thu Feb 17 16:05:17 1983
Received: Fri Feb 18 02:32:31 1983

The documentation does not make this clear.  The System III mknod
intrinsic checks effective uid == 0 for all except fifo's, which
anyone can make.  Given this, why not have the mknod command
subject to the same rules as all other commands, i.e., it may
or may not run as effective superuser, thereby restricting or
granting access to the public?

What stupid thing am I overlooking??

Alan Silverstein
csu-cs!hp-esd!ajs  but please post the answer if you are correct and
it's short and sweet.