SDFINIT[SDF](1M) — HP-UX

Series 500 Only

NAME

sdfinit − initialize Structured Directory Format volume

SYNOPSIS

/etc/sdfinit [-i] pathname [blocksize [bootsize [interleave]]]

DESCRIPTION

Sdfinit initializes a Structured Directory Format (SDF) volume associated with a specified special file.

Pathname refers to a character or block special file which must be accessible and not mounted.

Blocksize specifies the number of bytes per logical block. It is rounded up, if necessary, to the next multiple of the physical record size for the volume. If absent or less than one (1), the system selects a reasonable default.

Bootsize specifies the number of bytes to be allocated for boot area on the volume. It is rounded up to an integer number of logical blocks. Default is zero (no boot area).

Interleave defines the sector interleave factor. Default is 1 (not necessarily the best value for all devices). In the special case of initializing memory volumes (those volumes accessed through driver number 10 as explained in the HP-UX System Administrator Manual), interleave specifies the number of 256-byte physical sectors that are to be used for the memory volume "device". The maximum number of sectors allowed is 2047 which yields 524032 bytes.

The root directory on the newly-initialized volume is always owned by super-user and has permissions of 755.

The -i option inhibits certification, limiting the operation to initialization only which consists of writing a directory structure. This saves a considerable amount of time in most cases. However, the -i option is not recommended for most removable media, unless the media was recently certified in the same type of drive.

Sdfinit does not return until the operation is complete which may require considerable time. For example, certification can consume up to 47 minutes for an HP 7933 disk or up to 67 minutes on an HP 88140L (DC-600) cartridge tape. Initialization requires an additional one to five minutes.

Note that during this certification and initialization process, sdfinit monopolizes the interface select code so that no other devices can be accessed. This means that if the root device is using the same interface as the device being accessed by sdfinit, the root device is also inaccessible for the duration.

RETURNS

Appropriate error messages are given if the argument list is incorrect, pathname cannot be initialized or any other error occurs.

WARNINGS

The effective user ID must be zero (super-user). The disk must not be mounted.

AUTHOR

Sdfinit was developed by HP.

Museum