Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 00:26:59 -0500 (EST) From: Kenneth Chiu <chiuk@cs.indiana.edu> To: pmg <pmg@Quetico.tbaytel.net> Cc: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: BSD filesystems & MBR Message-ID: <Pine.BSF.3.96.990218001739.3845A-100000@bakery.chiu.nom> In-Reply-To: <36CADA56.67D2@mail.tbaytel.net>
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I'm a little bit confused by what you are asking. Yes, it is recommended that you use fdisk to produce an MS-style partition table. The first partition (MS-speak) should start on the second track, which will guarantee that the FreeBSD partition will not mess up the MBR. Optionally, but not recommended, you can make the disk "dangerously dedicated". This means that there is no partition table. There is still an MBR in a sense, but it no longer conforms to MS conventions. On Wed, 17 Feb 1999, pmg wrote: > i have a question about disk formatting and the DOS MBR. > > is there any reason at all to reserve a spot (1 block?), > using fdisk or whatever, at the beginning of a disk > that will be used solely for FreeBSD? > if the 'a' partition starts at absolute sector 0 > (sector 1 in DOS speak), > relative to the disk, not just the slice, > will FreeBSD ever interact with the MRB, or vicey-vous? > or, does FreeBSD always leave the 1st block of > a file partition (not a swap) untouched? > alternatively, will fdisk or any other similar DOS-like > utility mess up the freeBSD disk label or the 'a' partition? > > i like the idea of using fdisk just to keep a record on the disk > of the geometry, even if i'm only using a single slice for FreeBSD, > but i'm wondering if it would be more prudent to move that slice > on down a bit just to keep it out of harm's way. > moving it down a bit has no effect on the geometry of the slice on scsi > drives, since their geometry is virtual anyway. > but it seems to me that on ide drives you would have to make the move > 1 cylinder, or a integer number of cylinders. > otherwise, the geometry of the slice will be discombobulated with > respect to underlying geometry of the disk. > what about modern eide drives that remap their real geometry anyway??? > > fundamental question: will fdisk and FreeBSD play together nicely > on the 1st block of a disk??? > > > thanks much, > > > j michael > > > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org > with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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