x86: To Check IDE Disk for Bad Blocks

IDE disk drives do not automatically map out bad blocks like other drives supported by Solaris software. Before installing Solaris 9 on an IDE disk, you might want to perform a surface analysis on the disk. To perform surface analysis on an IDE disk, follow this procedure.

1. Boot to the installation media in single-user mode.

   # b -s

2. Start the format program.

   # format

3. Specify the IDE disk drive on which you want to perform a surface analysis.

   # cxdy

   cx

   Is the controller number

   dy

   Is the device number

4. You need an fdisk partition.

   • If a Solaris fdisk partition already exists, proceed to Step 5.

   • If a Solaris fdisk partition does not exist, use the fdisk command to create a Solaris partition on the disk.

   format> fdisk

5. Type:

   format> analyze

6. Type:

   analyze> config

   The current settings for a surface analysis are displayed.

   1. If you want to change settings, type:

      analyze> setup

7. Type:

   analyze> type_of_surface_analysis

   type_of_surface_analysis

   Is read, write, or compare

   If format finds bad blocks, it re-maps them.

8. Type:

   analyze> quit

9. Do you want to specify blocks to re-map?

   • If no, go to Step 10.

   • If yes, type:

     format> repair

10. Type:

    quit

    The format program quits.

11. To restart the media in multiuser mode, type:

    ok b