Chapter 36The format Utility (Reference)
This chapter describes the format utility's
menu and commands.
This is a list of the reference information in this chapter.
For a overview of when to use the format utility,
see Chapter 32, Managing Disks (Overview).
Recommendations and Requirements for Using The format
Utility
You must be superuser or a member of an equivalent role to use the format utility. If you are not superuser or have assumed an equivalent
role, you will see the following error message when trying to use the format utility:
$ format
Searching for disks...done
No permission (or no disks found)!
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Keep the following guidelines in mind when using the format utility and you want to preserve the existing data:
Back up all files on the disk drive.
Save all your defect lists in files by using the format utility's dump command. The file name
should include the drive type, model number, and serial number.
Save the paper copies of the manufacturer's defect list that
was shipped with your drive.
Format Menu and Command Descriptions
The format main menu looks like the following:
FORMAT MENU:
disk - select a disk
type - select (define) a disk type
partition - select (define) a partition table
current - describe the current disk
format - format and analyze the disk
repair - repair a defective sector
label - write label to the disk
analyze - surface analysis
defect - defect list management
backup - search for backup labels
verify - read and display labels
save - save new disk/partition definitions
inquiry - show vendor, product and revision
volname - set 8-character volume name
quit
format>
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The following table describes the format main menu
items.
Table 36-1 The format Main Menu Item Descriptions
Item | Command or Menu? | Description |
|---|
disk | Command | Lists all of the system's drives. Also lets you choose
the disk you want to use in subsequent operations. This disk is referred to
as the current disk. |
type | Command | Identifies the manufacturer and model of the current disk.
Also displays a list of known drive types. Choose the Auto configure option for all SCSI-2 disk drives. |
partition | Menu | Creates and modifies slices. For more information, see The partition Menu. |
current | Command | Displays the following information about the current disk: Device name and device type Number of cylinders, alternate cylinders, heads and sectors Physical device name
|
format | Command | Formats the current disk by using one of these sources
of information in this order: Information that is found in the format.dat
file Information from the automatic configuration process Information that you enter at the prompt if there is no format.dat entry
This command does not apply to IDE disks. IDE disks are
pre-formatted by the manufacturer. |
fdisk | Menu | x86 platform only: Runs the fdisk program
to create a Solaris fdisk partition. |
repair | Command | Repairs a specific block on the current disk. |
label | Command | Writes a new label to the current disk. |
analyze | Menu | Runs read, write, compare tests. For more information,
see The analyze Menu. |
defect | Menu | Retrieves and prints defect lists. For more information,
see The defect Menu. This feature does not apply to IDE
disks. IDE disks perform automatic defect management. |
backup | Command | VTOC - Searches
for backup labels. EFI -
Not supported. |
verify | Command | Prints the following information about the current disk: Device name and device type Number of cylinders, alternate cylinders, heads and sectors Partition table
|
save | Command | VTOC -Saves new
disk and partition information. EFI -
Not applicable. |
inquiry | Command | Prints the vendor, product name, and revision level of
the current drive (SCSI disks only). |
volname | Command | Labels the disk with a new eight-character volume name. |
quit | Command | Exits the format menu. |
The partition Menu
The partition menu looks similar to the following:
format> partition
PARTITION MENU:
0 - change `0' partition
1 - change `1' partition
2 - change `2' partition
3 - change `3' partition
4 - change `4' partition
5 - change `5' partition
6 - change `6' partition
7 - change `7' partition
select - select a predefined table
modify - modify a predefined partition table
name - name the current table
print - display the current table
label - write partition map and label to the disk
quit
partition>
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The following table describes the partition menu
items.
Table 36-2 Descriptions for partition Menu Items
Sub-Command | Description |
|---|
change `n' partition | Lets you specify the following information for the new
slice: Identification tag Permission flags Starting cylinder Size
|
select | Lets you choose a predefined slice
table. |
modify | Lets you change all the slices in the
slice table. This command is preferred over the individual change `x' partition commands. |
name | Lets you specify a name for the current
slice table. |
print | Displays the current slice table. |
label | Writes the slice map and the label
to the current disk. |
quit | Exits the partition menu. |
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