File Formats

Certain files in the operating system are required to have a specific format. The formats of the files that are provided with the operating system are discussed in the documentation for those files. If a file is generated by either the system or a user rather than provided on the distribution medium, it is discussed as a file format in this documentation. File formats often are also associated with header files that contain C-language definitions and structures for the files.

More information about the following file formats is provided in this documentation:

Item Description
acct Describes the format of the records in the system accounting files.
ar Describes the format of an archive file.
audit Describes values used by the auditing system as well as the structure of a bin.
bootptab Describes the default configuration database for the Internet Boot Protocol server (bootpd).
CGM Defines a file format for storage and retrieval of device-independent graphics.
charmap Defines character symbols as character encodings.
core Describes the structures created in a core file as a result of a core dump.
cpio Describes the cpio (copy in/out) archive file.
eqnchar Contains special character definitions for the eqn and neqn commands.
lastlog Defines the last login attributes for users.
ldapattribmap Defines AIX® to LDAP attribute name mapping to support configurable LDAP server schema.
locale definition Contains one or more categories that describe a locale.
locale method Specifies the methods to be overridden when constructing a locale.
magic Defines file types.
mailrc Sets defaults for the mail command.
mh_alias Defines aliases for the Message Handler (MH).
mib_defs Provides descriptions of Management Information Base (MIB) variables for the snmpinfo command.
nroff and troff input Specifies input file format for the nroff and troff commands.
nterm Describes the format of the terminal driver tables for the nroff command.
profile Describes the format of the profile and .profile files, which set the user environment at login time.
queuedefs Describes the format of the file used by the cron daemon to handle event types.
sccsfile Describes the format of a Source Code Control System (SCCS) file.
setmaps Defines the text of a code-set map file and a terminal map file.
terminfo Contains compiled terminfo source files.
TIFF Enables InfoCrafter to support scanned images that have been imported into Interleaf documents.
trcfmt Stores trace templates.
troff Describes the output language of the troff command.
troff Font Describes the format of the troff command font files.
tunables Centralizes tunable parameter values.
UIL Contains information on the user interface for a widget-based application.
utmp, wtmp, failedlogin Describes the format of the user and accounting information in the utmp, wtmp, and failedlogin files.
vgrindefs Contains the language definition database for the vgrind command.
WML Generates variable UIL compiler components.

Asynchronous Terminal Emulation (ATE) File Formats

Item Description
ate.def Determines default settings for use in asynchronous connections and file transfers.
ATE Dialing Directory Lists phone numbers that the ATE program uses to establish modem connections.

Basic Networking Utilities (BNU) File Formats

Item Description
Devices Contains information about devices on the local system that can establish a connection to a remote computer using the Basic Networking Utilities (BNU) program.
Dialcodes Contains the initial digits of telephone numbers used to establish remote connections over a phone line.
Dialers Lists modems used for Basic Networking Utilities (BNU) remote communications links.
Maxuuscheds Limits the number of instances of the uusched and uucico daemons that can run simultaneously.
Maxuuxqts Limits the number of instances of the BNU uuxqt daemon that can run simultaneously on the local system.
Permissions Specifies BNU permissions for remote systems that call or are called by the local system.
Poll Specifies when the BNU program should poll remote systems.
Systems Lists remote computers with which users of the local system can communicate using the Basic Networking Utilities (BNU) program.

tip File Formats

Item Description
phones Describes connections used by the tip command to contact remote systems.
remote Describes remote systems contacted by the tip command.
.tiprc Provides initial settings of variables for the tip command.

TCP/IP System Management File Formats

Item Description
3270keys Defines user keyboard mapping and colors for TELNET (3270).
Domain Cache Defines the root name server or servers for a DOMAIN name server host.
Domain Data Stores name resolution information for the named daemon.
Domain Local Data Defines the local loopback information for named on the name server host.
Domain Reverse Data Stores reverse name resolution information for the named daemon.
/etc/ftpd.cnf Specifies configuration parameters of the ftpd daemon to start a TLS session.
.ftpcnf Specifies configuration parameters of the ftp command to start a TLS session.
ftpusers Specifies local user names that cannot be used by remote FTP clients.
gated.conf Contains configuration information for the gated daemon.
gateways Specifies Internet routing information to the routed and gated daemons on a network.
hosts Defines the Internet Protocol (IP) name and address of the local host and specifies the names and addresses of remote hosts.
hosts.equiv Specifies remote systems that can execute commands on the local system.
hosts.lpd Specifies remote hosts that can print on the local host.
inetd.conf Defines how the inetd daemon handles Internet service requests.
map3270 Defines keyboard mapping and colors for the tn3270 command.
netcd.conf Defines parameters for the netcd daemon.
.netrc Specifies automatic login information for the ftp and rexec commands.
networks Contains the network name file.
protocols Defines the Internet protocols used on the local host.
rc.net Defines host configuration for the following areas: network interfaces, host name, default gateway, and any static routes.
resolv.conf Defines DOMAIN name server information for local resolver routines.
rfc1108 Contains the mapping between AIX® Trusted Network labels and rfc1108 labels.
.rhosts Specifies remote users that can use a local user account on a network.
services Defines the sockets and protocols used for Internet services.
Standard Resource Record Format Defines the format of lines in the DOMAIN data files.
telnet.conf Translates a client's terminal-type strings into terminfo file entries.
cgaparams.sec Defines the color graphics adapter (CGA) parameter keywords for the ndpd-host daemon and autoconf6 command.
ndpdh.cnf Defines the configuration file locations for the ndpd-host daemon and the autoconf6 command.
sendh_anchor Defines the trusted anchor for the ndpd-host daemon.
sendr_anchor Defines the trusted anchors for the ndpd-router daemon.
tempaddr.conf Defines if temporary addresses should be allowed or denied