The disk controller number is part of the /dev link name used to access the disk. If that number changes during the reconfiguration sequence, the /dev link name also changes. This change may affect file system tables and software, such as Solstice(TM) DiskSuite(TM), which uses the /dev link names. Update /etc/vfstab files and execute other administrative actions necessary due to the changes in the /dev link names.
When the reconfiguration sequence is executed after a board is unconfigured or disconnected, the /dev links for all the disk partitions on that board are deleted. The remaining boards retain their current numbering. Disk controllers on a newly inserted board are assigned the next available lowest number by disks(1M).
The disks(1m) utility creates symbolic links in the /dev/dsk and /dev/rdsk directories pointing to the actual special disk device files under the /devices directory tree. These entries take the form /dev/dsk/cXtXdXsX where:
cX is the disk controller number
tX corresponds to the disk target number, in most cases
dX refers to the logical unit number
sX is the partition number
Removing boards that contain one or more disk controllers prompts the disks(1m) utility to examine entries in /dev/dsk and /dev/rdsk. These entries list the disks attached to the removed controller(s). The disks(1m) utility discovers references to disconnected devices have been removed from /dev/dsk and /dev/rdsk. This removal action makes the logical controller numbers available for re-use. This re-use of controller numbers can lead to confusion when unexpected controller numbers are assigned to disk controllers that are added to the system.