What does errno 118 (ENOTNAM) in Linux mean?

Status / error code:		Category:

Constant name:
Source:		Operating System:
Description: ENOTNAM is a legacy Linux errno meaning object is not a XENIX named-type file.

Could be also:
Constant	Type	OS
ERROR_INVALID_VERIFY_SWITCH	Win32 error	Windows
ENETUNREACH	errno	Windows
PROCESS_HAS_LOCKED_PAGES	BugCheck Code	Windows

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ENETRESET	ENETUNREACH

ENOTNAM

ENOTNAM: Linux legacy errno

ENOTNAM (errno 3) reports that a XENIX named-file operation was applied to an object that is not a named-type file. These names come from historical System V/XENIX compatibility interfaces; on modern Linux they usually point to a driver, STREAMS-compatibility layer, or legacy IPC contract rather than a general filesystem error.

Evidence to capture

Record path, inode/file type, mount/filesystem, and named-file operation.

Focused test

stat the target and compare the operation with a known XENIX named-type object.

Correction

select the correct named object or use an API appropriate for the actual file type.

Verification

Repeat the original system call and confirm it passes the former ENOTNAM boundary with the same object identity.

Technical references

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