Rules for Input to format Commands
When you use the format utility, you need to provide various kinds
of information. This section describes the rules for this information. For information on
using format's help facility when you specify data, see Getting Help on the format Utility.
Specifying Numbers to format Commands
Several places in the format utility require number as input. You must either
specify the appropriate data or select a number from a list of choices.
In either case, the help facility causes format to display the upper and
lower limits of the number expected. Simply enter the appropriate number. The number
is assumed to be in decimal format unless a base is explicitly specified
as part of the number (for example, 0x for hexadecimal).
The following are examples of integer input:
Enter number of passes [2]: 34
Enter number of passes [34] Oxf
Specifying Block Numbers to format Commands
Whenever you are required to specify a disk block number, there are two
ways to do so:
You can specify the information as an integer that represents the logical block
number. You can specify the number in any base, but the default
is decimal. The maximum operator (a dollar sign, $) can also be used here
so that format utility can select the appropriate value. Logical block format is
used by the SunOS disk drivers in error messages.
The other way to specify a block number is by using cylinder/head/sector format.
In this method, you must specify explicitly the three logical components of the
block number: the cylinder, head, and sector values. These values are still logical.
However, they allow you to define regions of the disk that are related
to the layout of the media.
If any of the cylinder/head/sector numbers are not specified, the value is assumed
to be zero. You can also use the maximum operator in place
of any of the numbers. Then, the format utility will select the appropriate value.
The following are some examples of cylinder, head, and sector values:
Enter defective block number: 34/2/3
Enter defective block number: 23/1/
Enter defective block number: 457//
Enter defective block number: 12345
Enter defective block number: Oxabcd
Enter defective block number: 334/$/2
Enter defective block number: 892//$
The format utility always displays block numbers in both formats. Also, the help
facility shows you the upper and lower limits of the block number expected,
in both formats.
Specifying format Command Names
Command names are needed as input whenever the format utility displays a menu prompt.
You can abbreviate the command names, as long as what you type is
sufficient to uniquely identify the command desired.
For example, use p to access the partition menu from the format menu.
Then, type p to display the current slice table.
format> p
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> p
Specifying Disk Names to format Commands
At certain points in the format utility, you must name something. In these
cases, you are free to specify any string you want for the name.
If the name has white space in it, the entire name must be
enclosed in double quotation marks ("). Otherwise, only the first word of the
name is used.
For example, if you want to identify a specific partition table for a
disk, you can use the name subcommand that is available from the partition
menu:
partition> name
Enter table name (remember quotes): "new disk3"
