How to Format a Disk

1. Become superuser or assume an equivalent role.

2. Invoke the format utility.

   # format

3. Type the number of the disk that you want to format from the list displayed on your screen.

   Specify disk (enter its number): 0

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   Caution –

   Do not select the system disk. If you format your system disk, you delete the operating system and any data on this disk.

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4. To begin formatting the disk, type format at the format> prompt. Confirm the command by typing y.

   format> format Ready to format. Formatting cannot be interrupted and takes 23 minutes (estimated). Continue? yes

5. Verify that the disk format is successful by noting the following messages.

   Beginning format. The current time Tue ABC xx xx:xx:xx xxxx Formatting... done Verifying media... pass 0 - pattern = 0xc6dec6de 2035/12/18 pass 1 - pattern = 0x6db6db6d 2035/12/18 Total of 0 defective blocks repaired.

Example—Formatting a Disk

The following example shows how to format the disk c0t3d0.

# format
Searching for disks...done
AVAILABLE DISK SELECTIONS:
  0. c0t1d0 <SUN1.05 cyl 2036 alt 2 hd 14 sec 72>
     /iommu@f,e0000000/sbus@f,e0001000/espdma@f,400000/esp@f,800000/sd@1,0
  1. c0t3d0 <SUN1.05 cyl 2036 alt 2 hd 14 sec 72>
     /iommu@f,e0000000/sbus@f,e0001000/espdma@f,400000/esp@f,800000/sd@3,0
Specify disk (enter its number):1
Selecting c0t3d0
[disk formatted]
format> format
Ready to format. Formatting cannot be interrupted
and takes 23 minutes (estimated). Continue? yes
Beginning format. The current time is Thu Dec  6 09:54:40 2001
Formatting ...
done
Verifying media...
        pass 0 - pattern = 0xc6dec6de
   2035/12/18  

        pass 1 - pattern = 0x6db6db6d
   2035/12/18  

Total of 0 defective blocks repaired.
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