This device management enhancement is new in the Solaris Express 10/06 release.
Starting with this release, the /dev name space supports multiple file system instances as needed. When the system is booted, a global instance of the /dev file system is created automatically. Subsequent /dev instances are created and mounted when needed. For example, when devices are added to a non-global zone. When a non-global zone is shut down, the available /dev instance is unmounted and unavailable.
In addition, device configuration is improved in the following ways:
Reconfiguration boot is eliminated. In release prior to Solaris Express 10/06, a reconfiguration boot was needed if you connected a device to a system that is powered off.
Starting with this release, you do not need to perform a reconfiguration boot when attaching devices to a system that is powered off. When you reboot the system, the system automatically recognizes newly attached devices and creates the appropriate links.
For more information, see the devfs(7FS) man page.
Zone device support is simplified. As described above, device support for Solaris zones is enhanced by providing specific instances of the /dev directory for non-global zones. In addition, zones are no longer dependent on the devfsadm daemon for reconfiguration of devices within a zone.
Pseudo device creation is improved. Starting with this release, the content of the /dev/pts directory is created on demand in the global /dev name space and in the /dev instance when needed in a non-global zone. In addition, the ptys links are only visible in the global zone or the non-global zone from which they are allocated.
For more information, see the grantpt(3C) man page.