FDFORMAT(1) — USER COMMANDS
NAME
fdformat − format diskettes for use with SunOS
SYNOPSIS — Sun386i SYSTEMS
fdformat [ −L ] [ −2 ]
SYNOPSIS — SUN-3/80 and SPARCstation 1 SYSTEMS
fdformat [ −eflv ] [ device ]
AVAILABLITY
Sun386i, Sun-3/80 and SPARCstation 1 systems only.
DESCRIPTION
fdformat is a utility for formatting floppy diskettes for use with the SunOS operating system. All new blank diskettes must be formatted before they can be used. fdformat formats and verifies each track on the diskette, and terminates if it finds any bad sectors. All existing data on the diskette, if any, is destroyed by formatting.
By default, fdformat formats a high density diskette with a capacity of 1.44 megabytes. Use the −L or −l option to format low density diskettes (720K capacity). Note: it is not possible to put a low density format onto a high density floppy diskette. High density diskettes can be recognized by the high density detect hole in the lower right corner of the diskette, opposite the write protect hole in the lower left corner.
The SPARCstation1 version of fdformat writes a SunOS label on the diskette in logical block 0 after it has been formatted. The label is required on SPARCstation 1 systems if you intend to put a UNIX file system on the floppy diskette.
On Sun386i systems, use the −2 option to format diskettes in the optional external 5 1/4" floppy drive.
To format a diskette for use under MS-DOS, use the format command from the DOS WINDOWS software.
OPTIONS — Sun386i SYSTEMS
−L Format a low density (720K) diskette.
−2 Format a diskette in the optional external 5 1/4" floppy drive.
OPTIONS — SUN-3/80 and SPARCstation 1 SYSTEMS
−e Eject the diskette when done.
−f Force. Do not ask for confirmation before starting format.
−l Format a low density (720K) diskette.
−v Verify the floppy diskette after formatting.
FILES — Sun386i SYSTEMS
/dev/rfd0c
/dev/rfdl0c
/dev/rfd2c
/dev/rfdl2c
FILES — Sun-3/80 and SPARCstation 1 SYSTEMS
/dev/rfd0c
SEE ALSO
BUGS
The SunOS system currently does not support bad sector mapping on floppy diskettes. Therefore, a diskette is unusable if fdformat finds an error (bad sector).
Sun Release 4.0 — Last change: 8 May 1989