Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 09:12:08 -0500 (EST)
From: Jerry McAllister <jerrymc@clunix.cl.msu.edu>
To: roddierod@yahoo.com
Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Subject: Re: {solved] Problems creating a filesystem on a new SCSI drive - But raises another question.
Message-ID: <200112131412.fBDEC8S04729@clunix.cl.msu.edu>
In-Reply-To: <20011212230151.3dced0bc.roddierod@hotpop.com> from "Rod Person" at Dec 12, 2001 11:01:51 PM
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>
> After studying the output of disklabel for the new drive I tried
> newfs /dev/da1c and everthing worked.
>
> this leads me to this question. The handbook states the freebsd creates
> the e partition for non-root non-swap partitions. Since my partition came
> out as c, is this because I created the disk as bootable? I thought in
> that case freebsd would create the partition as a.
> -- (some omitted) --
> No there was no e partition at this point. In fact there seemed to be no
> partitions created.
For some reason (probably historical strangeness) the socalled "c" partition
is used to represent the whole disk slice (which would be the whole disk if
you put it all in one slice with fdisk). It is not normally mounted or used
though I guess it can be. Even if you want to use the whole disk, it would
be common practice to create another partition that represents all of the
disk for mounting.
The convention for partitions seem to be
a = / (eg root)
b = swap
c = the whole disk but with no file system (fstype = 'unused')
and not mounted
d = ??
e = /tmp
f = /home or other large working partition - often the rest
of the disk
g = additional working partition if you want to divide it up more
often called /work or /scratch
h = another additional working partition if you want, same as g.
I tend to use these conventions even when I am making a whole disk for
just one large working partition eg. use partition 'f' or 'h' for it
although others seem to just use 'a' under those circumstances.
Anyway, since 'c' represents the whole slice, that is what disklabel
starts with and it is up to you to make the rest. I sleepily may have
said something about it also creating an 'a' partition in an earlier
message. Sorry,
////jerry
> >
> > What does 'disklabel' say?
>
> here is the disklabel output for the new drive...
> # /dev/da1:
> type: SCSI
> disk: DEC
> label: RZ29B (C) DEC
> flags:
> bytes/sector: 512
> sectors/track: 32
> tracks/cylinder: 64
> sectors/cylinder: 2048
> cylinders: 4091
> sectors/unit: 8380080
> rpm: 3600
> interleave: 1
> trackskew: 0
> cylinderskew: 0
> headswitch: 0 # milliseconds
> track-to-track seek: 0 # milliseconds
> drivedata: 0
>
> 8 partitions:
> # size offset fstype [fsize bsize bps/cpg]
> c: 8380080 0 unused 0 0 # (Cyl. 0 - 4091*)
>
> > --
> > Crist J. Clark cjclark@alum.mit.edu
> >
> roddierod@yahoo.com
>
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