Chapter 35

The `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 31, 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)!

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>

The following table describes the format main menu items.

Table 35-1 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
`fdisk`	Menu	IA 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".
`backup`	Command	Searches for backup labels.
`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	Saves new disk and partition information.
`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>

The following table describes the partition menu items.

Table 35-2 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.

The format Utility (Reference)

Recommendations and Requirements for Using The format Utility

Format Menu and Command Descriptions

The partition Menu

The `format` Utility (Reference)

Recommendations and Requirements for Using The `format` Utility

The `partition` Menu