Sidebar: About lsattr

The AIX lsattr command can be used as a command-line alternative to the SMIT "Change/Show Characteristics" panels. I typically use lsattr with devices like tape drives, terminals, and printers. The flags I referenced in this article are:

-D -- Displays default values

-E -- Displays effective values

-a attribute -- Specifies each attribute to be displayed; if attributes are not specified, every attribute is listed

-l Name -- Specifies the device logical name in the Customized Devices object class

An alternative to specifying the -l flag might be a combination of the following flags:

-c class -- Specifies subclass, e.g., printer, tty, tape

-s Subclass -- Specifies subclass, e.g., parallel printer, serial printer

-t Type -- Specifies type, e.g., the 4207-2 printer

However, these flags cannot be used with the -E flag.

Note that the -c, -s, and -t flags are required with the mkdev command when you are creating, for example, a tty or printer.