scsidiskformat(1m)scsidiskformat(1m)NAMEscsidiskformat - low level format of SCSI, Fibre Channel devices.
SYNOPSISscsidiskformat-d Device [-D (Format with Optimum Settings)] [-G (Erase
Existing G,C Lists)] [-C (Set Disable Certification Bit)] [-S (Donot Stop
Format on Error)]
DESCRIPTIONscsidiskformat is a utility for the low level format of devices accessed
using the SGI SCSI subsystem. It sends a 6 byte Format Unit command to
the device.
FMT DATA (Format Data) Bit
Decides whether the Format Unit Parameter list [defect list header +
defect descriptor list] is to be supplied to the device. When set to
1 the list is supplied to the device.
CMP LST (Complete List) Bit
Decides whether to purge any previous Growth or Certification
defect list. When set to 1 the previous G and C lists are purged.
Defect List Format
Specifies the format in which the defect descriptor list is sent to
the device. Valid formats : Bytes from Index and Physical Sector
format
FOV (Format Options Valid) bit
Decides the validity of the Format Parameter bits which follow.
When set to 1 the remaining bits are valid.
DPRY (Disable Primary) bit
Decides whether flaws in the device's P list are reallocated during
format. When set to 1 flaws in the device's P list are not
reallocated.
DCRT (Disable Certification) bit
Decides whether the device performs a verify function during format.
When set to 1 the device does not perform a verify function during
formatting (thus no C list for this format is created or
reallocated).
STPF (Stop Format) bit
Decides on how the device should react to an error during format.
When set to 1 formatting is terminated with a Check Condition status
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scsidiskformat(1m)scsidiskformat(1m)
if an error is encountered while accessing either the P or G defect
list. The sense key is set to Medium Error and the additional sense
code is set to either Defect List Not Found or Defect List Error.
IP (Initialization Pattern) bit
This field indicates the type of pattern the target uses to
initialize each logical block within the initiator accessible
portion of the medium. An initialization pattern is not currently
supported and this bit must be set to 0
Immed (Immediate) bit
When set to 1 the device will return status as soon as the command
descriptor block has been validated, and the entire defect list has
been transferred. When set to 0 status will be returned after the
first operation has completed.
The Format Unit command can also be used to modify the number of user
accessible blocks and the number of bytes per block for the device. More
information about the command can be found in the SCSI-3 Block Command
Set (SBC) documents.
OPTIONS
-D Non-interactive mode to format a device with optimum format
settings. In this mode, the settings are as follows : FMT DATA =
1, CMP LST = 0, FOV = 1, DPRY = 0, DCRT = 0, STPF = 1, IP = 0, Immed
= 0.
It is recommended to use the above format settings unless there is
sufficient justification to change them.
-G Non-interactive mode option to purge the previous Growth(G),
Certification(C) Defect Lists from the device. This option sets the
CMP LST Bit to 1.
-C Non-interactive mode option to set the DCRT (Disable Certification
Bit) to 1. When the DCRT bit is set to 1, the device doesnot perform
a Verify Function during formatting (thus no C list for this format
is created or reallocated).
-S Non-interactive mode option to set the STPF (Stop Format) bit to 0.
When the STPF bit is set to 0, formatting is not terminated if an
error is encountered while accessing either the P or G defect lists.
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scsidiskformat(1m)scsidiskformat(1m)EXAMPLESscsidiskformat is invoked with the -d Device option. The Device must
correspond to the 'sc' device. For example
scsidiskformat-D -d /dev/scsi/sc9d70l0
As a general rule using the -D (Optimum Settings option) will result in
the best results. Change the optimum settings, only if you are fully
aware of the changes they make to the SCSI or Fibre Channel device.
In the interactive mode an invalid choice results in the default option
(specified in []) being chosen. For example
Set DPRY (Disable PRimarY) Bit? (y/n)
Any keystroke other than 'y' or 'Y' will result in 'n' being chosen.
This facility ensures that the best choices (set as default) are always
chosen unless the user wishes otherwise.
FILES
/dev/scsi/sc*d*l* - the generic 'sc' SCSI, Fibre Channel device
SEE ALSOscsicontrol(1M), scsiha(1M), scsimodepage(1M), scsidisktest(1M).
NOTE
This command is normally usable only by the superuser, because the
standard permissions of the devices in /dev/scsi restrict access to other
users.
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