Format Menu and Command Descriptions

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The format menu contents are displayed as follows:

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 (x86 only)
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&minus;character volume name
!<cmd>     – execute &lt;cmd>, then return
quit
format>

The following table describes the main menu items for the format utility.

Table 10-1 The Main Menu Item Descriptions for the format Utility

Menu Item	Command or Menu?	Description
`disk`	Command	Lists all of the system's drives. Also lets you choose the disk you want to use in subsequent operations. This disk is referred to as the current disk.
`type`	Command	Identifies the manufacturer and model of the current disk. Also displays a list of known drive types. Choose the `Auto configure` option for all SCSI-2 disk drives.
`partition`	Menu	Creates and modifies slices. For more information, see partition Menu.
`current`	Command	Displays the following information about the current disk: Device name and device type Number of cylinders, alternate cylinders, heads and sectors Physical device name
`format`	Command	Formats the current disk by using one of these sources of information in this order: Information that is found in the `format.dat` file Information from the automatic configuration process Information that you type at the prompt if no `format.dat` entry exists This command does not apply to IDE disks. IDE disks are preformatted by the manufacturer.
`fdisk`	Menu	x86 platform only: Runs the `fdisk` program to create a Solaris `fdisk` partition. The `fdisk` command cannot be used on disks with an EFI label that are greater than 1 terabyte in size.
`repair`	Command	Repairs a specific block on the current disk.
`label`	Command	Writes a new label to the current disk.
`analyze`	Menu	Runs read, write, and compare tests. For more information, see analyze Menu.
`defect`	Menu	Retrieves and displays defect lists. For more information, see defect Menu. This feature does not apply to IDE disks. IDE disks manage defects automatically.
`backup`	Command	VTOC – Searches for backup labels. EFI – Not supported.
`verify`	Command	Displays the following information about the current disk: Device name and device type Number of cylinders, alternate cylinders, heads and sectors Partition table
`save`	Command	VTOC – Saves new disk and partition information. EFI – Not applicable.
`inquiry`	Command	SCSI disks only – Displays the vendor, product name, and revision level of the current drive.
`volname`	Command	Labels the disk with a new eight-character volume name that you specify.
`quit`	Command	Exits the Format menu.