xscsiformat - low level format of SCSI, Fibre Channel
devices accessed using the SGI linux-xscsi subsystem.
SYNOPSIS
xscsiformat [-D (Format with Optimum Settings)] [-G
(Erase Existing G,C Lists)] [-C (Set Disable Certification
Bit)] [-S (Donot Stop Format on Error)] -d Device
DESCRIPTION
xscsiformat is a utility for the low level format of
devices accessed using the SGI linux-xscsi subsystem. It
sends a 6 byte Format Unit command to the device.
FMT DATA (Format Data) Bit
Decides whether the Format Unit Parameter list
[defect list header + defect descriptor list] is to
be supplied to the device. When set to 1 the list
is supplied to the device.
CMP LST (Complete List) Bit
Decides whether to purge any previous Growth or
Certification defect list. When set to 1 the previ
ous G and C lists are purged.
Defect List Format
Specifies the format in which the defect descriptor
list is sent to the device. Valid formats : Bytes
from Index and Physical Sector format
FOV (Format Options Valid) bit
Decides the validity of the Format Parameter bits
which follow. When set to 1 the remaining bits are
valid.
DPRY (Disable Primary) bit
Decides whether flaws in the device's P list are
reallocated during format. When set to 1 flaws in
the device's P list are not reallocated.
DCRT (Disable Certification) bit
Decides whether the device performs a verify func
tion during format. When set to 1 the device does
not perform a verify function during formatting
(thus no C list for this format is created or real
located).
Decides on how the device should react to an error
during format. When set to 1 formatting is termi
nated with a Check Condition status if an error is
encountered while accessing either the P or G
defect list. The sense key is set to Medium Error
and the additional sense code is set to either
Defect List Not Found or Defect List Error.
IP (Initialization Pattern) bit
This field indicates the type of pattern the target
uses to initialize each logical block within the
initiator accessible portion of the medium. An ini
tialization pattern is not currently supported and
this bit must be set to 0
Immed (Immediate) bit
When set to 1 the device will return status as soon
as the command descriptor block has been validated,
and the entire defect list has been transferred.
When set to 0 status will be returned after the
first operation has completed.
The Format Unit command can also be used to modify the
number of user accessible blocks and the number of bytes
per block for the device. More information about the com
mand can be found in the SCSI-3 Block Command Set (SBC)
documents.
OPTIONS
-D Non-interactive mode to format a device with opti
mum format settings. In this mode, the settings
are as follows : FMT DATA = 1, CMP LST = 0, FOV =
1, DPRY = 0, DCRT = 0, STPF = 1, IP = 0, Immed = 0.
It is recommended to use the above format settings unless
there is sufficient justification to change them.
-G Non-interactive mode option to purge the previous
Growth(G), Certification(C) Defect Lists from the
device. This option sets the CMP LST Bit to 1.
-C Non-interactive mode option to set the DCRT (Dis
able Certification Bit) to 1. When the DCRT bit is
set to 1, the device doesnot perform a Verify Func
tion during formatting (thus no C list for this
format is created or reallocated).
Format) bit to 0. When the STPF bit is set to 0,
formatting is not terminated if an error is encoun
tered while accessing either the P or G defect
lists.
EXAMPLES
xscsiformat is invoked with the -d Device option. The
Device must correspond to the 'ds' device. For example
xscsiformat -D -d /dev/xscsi/pci05.02.0/target70/lun0/ds
As a general rule using the -D (Optimum Settings option)
will give the best results. Change the optimum settings,
only if you are fully aware of the changes they make to
the SCSI or Fibre Channel device.
In the interactive mode an invalid choice results in the
default option (specified in []) being chosen. For example
Set DPRY (Disable PRimarY) Bit? (y/n) [n]:
Any keystroke other than 'y' or 'Y' will result in 'n'
being chosen. This facility ensures that the best choices
(set as default) are always chosen unless the user wishes
otherwise.
FILES
/dev/xscsi/pci*/target*/lun*/ds - the SGI linux-xscsi
driver device
SEE ALSO
xscsicontrol(8), xscsiha(8), xscsimode(8), xscsidisk
test(8).
NOTE
This command is normally usable only by the superuser,
because the standard permissions of the devices in
/dev/xscsi restrict access to other users.
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