System Administration Guide: Devices and File Systems

ProcedureHow to Create a File System on Removable Media

  1. (Optional) Format the diskette.


    $ rmformat -F quick device-name
    
  2. (Optional) Create an alternate Solaris partition table.


    $ rmformat -s slice-file device-name
    

    A sample slice file appears similar to the following:


    slices: 0 = 0, 30MB, "wm", "home" : 
                  1 = 30MB, 51MB : 
                  2 = 0, 94MB, "wm", "backup" : 
                  6 = 81MB, 13MB
  3. Become superuser.

  4. Determine the appropriate file system type and select one of the following:

    • Create a UFS file system. For example:


      # newfs /dev/rdiskette0
    • Create a PCFS file system. For example:


      # mkfs -F pcfs /dev/rdsk/c0t4d0s2:c
      
    • Create a UDFS file system. For example:


      # mkfs -F udfs /dev/rdsk/c0t1d0s1
      

Example 2–2 Formatting a Diskette for a UFS File System

The following example shows how to format a diskette and create a UFS file system on the diskette.


$ rmformat -F quick /dev/rdiskette
Formatting will erase all the data on disk.
Do you want to continue? (y/n)y
$ su
# /usr/sbin/newfs /dev/rdiskette
newfs: construct a new file system /dev/rdiskette: (y/n)? y
/dev/rdiskette: 2880 sectors in 80 cylinders of 2 tracks, 18 sectors
        1.4MB in 5 cyl groups (16 c/g, 0.28MB/g, 128 i/g)
super-block backups (for fsck -F ufs -o b=#) at:
 32, 640, 1184, 1792, 2336,


Example 2–3 Formatting a Diskette for a PCFS File System

This example shows how to create a PCFS file system with an alternate fdisk partition. In these examples, vold is not running.


$ rmformat -F quick /dev/rdsk/c0t4d0s2:c
Formatting will erase all the data on disk.
Do you want to continue? (y/n) y
$ su
# fdisk /dev/rdsk/c0t4d0s2:c 
# mkfs -F pcfs /dev/rdsk/c0t4d0s2:c
Construct a new FAT file system on /dev/rdsk/c0t4d0s2:c: (y/n)? y
#

This example shows how to create a PCFS file system without an fdisk partition.


$ rmformat -F quick /dev/rdiskette
Formatting will erase all the data on disk.
Do you want to continue? (y/n) y
$ su
# mkfs -F pcfs -o nofdisk,size=2 /dev/rdiskette
Construct a new FAT file system on /dev/rdiskette: (y/n)? y
#