Allocating Raw Disk Space on UNIX

To allocate raw space, you must have a disk partition available that is dedicated to raw space. To create raw disk space, you can either repartition your disks or unmount an existing file system. Back up any files before you unmount the device.

To allocate raw disk space

Create and install a raw device.
For specific instructions on how to allocate raw disk space on UNIX, see your operating-system documentation and Unbuffered or Buffered Disk Access on UNIX.
Change the ownership and permissions of the character-special devices to informix.
The filename of the character-special device usually begins with the letter r. For the procedure, see steps 4 and 5 in Allocating Cooked File Spaces on UNIX.
Verify that the operating-system permissions on the character-special devices are crw-rw----.
Create a symbolic link between the character-special device name and another filename with the UNIX link command, ln -s. For details, see Creating Symbolic Links to Raw Devices (UNIX).

Warning:

After you create the raw device that the database server uses for disk space, do not create file systems on the same raw device that you allocate for the database server disk space. Also, do not use the same raw device as swap space that you allocate for the database server disk space.