Format Menu and Command Descriptions
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−character volume name
!<cmd> – execute <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
|
|
|
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.
|
|