"exec >/dev/null 2>&1" hangs shell

[Billinghurst, David (CRTS)]

On both:
 - irix6.5 with bash-2.04
 - cygwin with bash-2.05a
the command "exec > /dev/null 2>&1" hangs.

Interestingly:
 exec > /dev/null
 exec 2>&1
work but
 exec 2>/dev/null
hangs.

I came across this while debugging a dejagnu/expect problem.
It used a constuct exec sh -c "exec >/dev/null 2>&1 && kill $pid && ..."

I don't know if it is a bash bug, or just a nasty construct.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
(Mr) David Billinghurst
Comalco Research Centre
PO Box 316, Thomastown, Vic, Australia, 3074
Phone:  +61 3 9469 0642
FAX:            +61 3 9462 2700
Email:  David.Billinghurst@riotinto.com