NAME

       sndstat - Open Sound System status device

DESCRIPTION

       /dev/sndstat  is  a  text  formatted  device  special  file that returns information about
       available (OSS) sound devices. This device file is obsolete  and  the  ossinfo(1)  utility
       should be used instead.

       Notice  that  the  device  numbering  used  in  this  file  is different that the official
       numbering used by ossinfo(1) and some other utilities. /dev/sndstat  uses  device  numbers
       that match the "legacy" /dev/dspN, /dev/midiN and /dev/mixerN device files.

       Application  programs  should  not  use /dev/sndstat to obtain information about the sound
       devices. The format of this file may change in the future and  /dev/sndstat  may  even  be
       removed  from  OSS in distant future. OSS 4.0 and later has an ioctl interface for getting
       detailed and reliable information about the devices.

AUDIO USAGE HISTORY

       /dev/sndstat reports some history information about  previously  run  audio  applications.
       This  section  is  a  debugging aid for application developers and it will be moved to the
       ossinfo program in the future.

       For example:

               History:
               /dev/oss/hdaudio0/pcm0.10: pid 6326 cmd 'error_test' OUT Play events:01009:2 Rec events:01002:0
               /dev/oss/hdaudio0/pcm0.10: pid 6329 cmd 'mpg123' OUT
               /dev/oss/hdaudio0/pcm0.10: pid 6329 cmd 'mpg123' OUT
               /dev/oss/hdaudio0/pcm0.10: pid 6329 cmd 'mpg123' OUT

       Each line will show the the device name, PID and name of the application  (if  known)  and
       access   mode   (IN   and/or  OUT).  There  may  also  be  additional  info  about  buffer
       underruns/overruns and other recording and playback related events.

       Each Play and rec events consist of 5-6 digit event code and a parameter  separated  by  a
       colon.  A  list  of  defined  event  codes  and  their  explanations  can  be  found  from
       http://manuals.opensound.com/developer/oss_error_codes.html.  Purpose of these  events  is
       to inform application developers by potential problems in their code.

COMPATIBILITY

       /dev/sndstat  has  been  available  in all OSS versions. However in OSS 4.0 and later this
       device file should only be used by applications written for earlier OSS versions.

OPTIONS

       None

PROGRAMMING INFORMATION

       Some applications use /dev/sndstat to find the audio devices available in the system. This
       method  is  no  longer  recommended. Applications should use the SNDCTL_AUDIOINFO(2) ioctl
       call to find the devices.

SEE ALSO

       •  dsp(7) - Audio device files

       •  mixer(7) - Mixer (control panel) device files

       •  midi(7) - MIDI device files

FILES

       /dev/sndstat

AUTHOR

       4Front Technologies