scsidiskformat(1m)

NAME
     scsidiskformat - low level format of SCSI, Fibre Channel devices.

SYNOPSIS
     scsidiskformat -d Device [-D (Format with Optimum Settings)]  [-G (Erase
     Existing G,C Lists)] [-C (Set Disable Certification Bit)] [-S (Donot Stop
     Format on Error)]

DESCRIPTION
     scsidiskformat is a utility for the low level format of devices accessed
     using the SGI SCSI 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 previous 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 function 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
          reallocated).


     STPF (Stop Format) bit
          Decides on how the device should react to an error during format.
          When set to 1 formatting is terminated 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 initialization 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 command can be found in the SCSI-3 Block Command
     Set (SBC) documents.

   OPTIONS
     -D   Non-interactive mode to format a device with optimum 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 (Disable Certification
          Bit) to 1. When the DCRT bit is set to 1, the device doesnot perform
          a Verify Function during formatting (thus no C list for this format
          is created or reallocated).


     -S   Non-interactive mode option to set the STPF (Stop Format) bit to 0.
          When the STPF bit is set to 0, formatting is not terminated if an
          error is encountered while accessing either the P or G defect lists.

EXAMPLES
     scsidiskformat is invoked with the -d Device option. The Device must
     correspond to the 'sc' device.  For example

     scsidiskformat -D -d /dev/scsi/sc9d70l0

     As a general rule using the -D (Optimum Settings option) will result in
     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)

     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/scsi/sc*d*l* - the generic 'sc' SCSI, Fibre Channel device

SEE ALSO
     scsicontrol(1M), scsiha(1M), scsimodepage(1M), scsidisktest(1M).

NOTE
     This command is normally usable only by the superuser, because the
     standard permissions of the devices in /dev/scsi restrict access to other
     users.