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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