Configure and Label a Hardware RAID Volume for Use in the Solaris Operating System

After creating a RAID volume using raidctl, use format(1)to configure and label the volume before attempting to use it in a Solaris operating system.

1. Start the format utility:

   # format

   The format utility might generate messages about corruption of the current label on the volume, which you are going to change. You can safely ignore those messages.

2. Specify the disk that represents the RAID volume that you configured.

   In this example, c0t2d0 is the logical name of the volume, and its corresponding number is 2.

   # format
   Searching for disks...done
   AVAILABLE DISK SELECTIONS:
          0. c0t0d0 <SUN72G cyl 14084 alt 2 hd sec 424>
            /pci@0/pci@0/pci@2/scsi@0/sd@0, 0
          1. c0t1d0 <SUN72G cyl 14084 alt 2 hd sec 424>
            /pci@0/pci@0/pci@2/scsi@0/sd@1, 0
          2. c0t2d0 <SUN72G cyl 14084 alt 2 hd sec 424>
            /pci@0/pci@0/pci@2/scsi@0/sd@2, 0
   Specify disk (enter its number): 2
   selecting c0t2d0
   [disk formatted]
   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
           fdisk      - run the fdisk program
           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
           volname    - execute <cmd>, then return
           quit

3. Type the type command at the format> prompt, then select 0 (zero) to autoconfigure the volume.

   format> type
    
   AVAILABLE DRIVE TYPES:
           0. Auto configure
           1. DEFAULT
           2. SUN72G
           3. SUN72G
           4. other
   Specify disk type (enter its number) [3]: 0
   c0t2d0: configured with capacity of 68.23GB
   <LSILOGIC-LogicalVolume-3000 cyl 69866 alt 2 hd 16 sec 128>
   selecting c0t2d0
   [disk formatted]

4. Use the partition command to partition, or slice, the volume according to your desired configuration.

   See the format(1M)man page for additional information.

5. Write the new label to the disk using the label command.

   format> label
   Ready to label disk, continue? yes

6. Verify that the new label has been written by printing the disk list using the disk command.

   format> disk
   AVAILABLE DISK SELECTIONS:
          0. c0t0d0 <SUN72G cyl 14084 alt 2 hd sec 424>
            /pci@0/pci@0/pci@2/scsi@0/sd@0, 0
          1. c0t1d0 <SUN72G cyl 14084 alt 2 hd sec 424>
            /pci@0/pci@0/pci@2/scsi@0/sd@1, 0
          2. c0t2d0 <LSILOGIC-LogicalVolume-3000 cyl 69866 alt 2 hd 16 sec 128>
            /pci@0/pci@0/pci@2/scsi@0/sd@2, 0
   Specify disk (enter its number) [2]: 

   Note that c0t2d0 now has a type indicating it is an LSILOGIC-LogicalVolume.

7. Exit the format utility.

   The volume can now be used in the Solaris OS.

Related Information

• Disk Slot Numbers

• Hardware RAID Support