Chapter 34 x86: Adding a Disk (Tasks)

This chapter describes how to add a disk to an IA based system.

For information on the procedures associated with adding a disk to an IA based system, see x86: Adding a System Disk or a Secondary Disk (Task Map).

For overview information about disk management, see Chapter 31, Managing Disks (Overview). For step-by-step instructions on adding a disk to a SPARC based system, see Chapter 33, SPARC: Adding a Disk (Tasks).

x86: Adding a System Disk or a Secondary Disk (Task Map)

x86: Adding a System or Secondary Disk

A system disk contains the root (/) or /usr file systems, or both. If the disk that contains either of these file systems becomes damaged, you have two ways to recover:

• You can reinstall the entire Solaris environment.

• Or, you can replace the system disk and restore your file systems from a backup medium.

A secondary disk doesn't contain the root (/) and /usr file systems. A secondary disk usually contains space for user files. You can add a secondary disk to a system for more disk space, or you can replace a damaged secondary disk. If you replace a secondary disk on a system, you can restore the old disk's data on the new disk.

IA: How to Connect a System Disk and Boot

This procedure assumes that the system is down.

1. Disconnect the damaged system disk from the system.

2. Make sure that the disk you are adding has a different target number than the other devices on the system.

   You will often find a small switch located at the back of the disk for this purpose.

3. Connect the replacement system disk to the system and check the physical connections.

   Refer to the disk's hardware installation guide for installation details.

4. Follow steps a-e if you are booting from a local Solaris CD or a remote Solaris CD from the network.

   If you are booting from the network, skip step a.

   1. If you are booting from local Solaris CD, insert the Solaris installation CD into the CD-ROM drive.

   2. Insert the Solaris boot diskette into the primary diskette drive (DOS drive A).

   3. Press any key to reboot the system if the system displays the Type any key to continue prompt. Or, use the reset button to restart the system if the system is shut down.

      The Boot Solaris screen is displayed after a few minutes.

   4. Select the CD-ROM drive or net(work) as the boot device from the Boot Solaris screen.

      The Current Boot Parameters screen is displayed.

   5. Boot the system in single-user mode.

      Select the type of installation: b -s

      After a few minutes, the root prompt (#) is displayed.

x86: Where to Go From Here

After you boot the system, you can create an fdisk partition. Go to IA: How to Create a Solaris fdisk Partition.

IA: How to Connect a Secondary Disk and Boot

1. Become superuser or assume an equivalent role.

2. If the disk is unsupported by the Solaris software, add the device driver for the disk by following the instructions included with the hardware.

3. Create the /reconfigure file that will be read when the system is booted.

   # touch /reconfigure

   The /reconfigure file causes the SunOS software to check for the presence of any newly installed peripheral devices when you power on or boot your system later.

4. Shut down the system.

   # shutdown -i0 -gn -y

   -i0	Brings the system down to run level 0, the power-down state.
   -gn	Notifies logged-in users that they have n seconds before the system begins to shut down.
   -y	Specifies that the command should run without user intervention.

   The Type any key to continue prompt is displayed.

5. Turn off the power to the system and all external peripheral devices.

6. Make sure that the disk you are adding has a different target number than the other devices on the system.

   You will often find a small switch located at the back of the disk for this purpose.

7. Connect the disk to the system and check the physical connections.

   Refer to the disk's hardware installation guide for installation details. For specific disk compatibility issues, see Solaris 9 (Intel Platform Edition) Hardware Compatibility List.

8. Turn on the power to all external peripherals.

9. Turn on the power to the system.

   The system boots and displays the login prompt.

x86: Where to Go From Here

After you boot the system, you can create an fdisk partition. Go to IA: How to Create a Solaris fdisk Partition.

x86: Guidelines for Creating an fdisk Partition

Follow these guidelines when you set up the fdisk partition.

• The disk can be divided into a maximum of four fdisk partitions. One of partitions must be a Solaris partition.

• The Solaris partition must be made the active partition on the disk. The active partition is partition whose operating system will be booted by default at system startup.

• Solaris fdisk partitions must begin on cylinder boundaries.

• Solaris fdisk partitions must begin at cylinder 1, not cylinder 0, on the first disk because additional boot information, including the master boot record, is written in sector 0.

• The Solaris fdisk partition can be the entire disk or you might want to make it smaller to allow room for a DOS partition. You can also make a new fdisk partition on a disk without disturbing existing partitions (if there is enough room to create a new one).

Solaris slices are sometimes called partitions. This book uses the term slice, but some Solaris documentation and programs might refer to a slice as a partition.

To avoid confusion, Solaris documentation tries to distinguish between fdisk partitions (which are supported only on Solaris (Intel Platform Edition)) and the divisions within the Solaris fdisk partition, which might be called slices or partitions.

IA: How to Create a Solaris fdisk Partition

1. Read x86: Guidelines for Creating an fdisk Partition.

2. Become superuser or assume an equivalent role.

3. Invoke the format utility.

   # format

   For more information, see format(1M).

4. Type the number of the disk on which to create a Solaris fdisk partition from the list displayed on your screen.

   Specify disk (enter its number): disk-number

   disk-number is the number of the disk on which you want to create a Solaris fdisk partition.

5. Select the fdisk menu.

   format> fdisk

   The fdisk menu that is displayed depends upon whether the disk has existing fdisk partitions. Determine the next step using the following table.

   Task	Go To	For More Information
   Create a Solaris fdisk partition to span the entire disk.	Step 6	x86: Example—Creating a Solaris fdisk Partition That Spans the Entire Drive
   Create a Solaris fdisk partition and preserve one or more existing non-Solaris fdisk partition.	Step 7	x86: Example—Creating a Solaris fdisk Partition While Preserving an Existing fdisk Partition
   Create a Solaris fdisk partition and one or more additional non-Solaris fdisk partition.	Step 7	x86: Example—Creating a Solaris fdisk Partition and an Additional fdisk Partition

6. Create and activate a Solaris fdisk partition that spans the entire disk by specifying y at the prompt. Then, go to step 14.

   The recommended default partitioning for your disk is: a 100% “SOLARIS System” partition. To select this, please type “y”. To partition your disk differently, type “n” and the “fdisk” program will let you select other partitions. y

7. Specify n at the prompt if you do not want the Solaris fdisk partition to span the entire disk.

   To select this, please type "y". To partition your disk differently, type "n" and the "fdisk" program will let you select other partitions. n Total disk size is 2694 cylinders Cylinder size is 765 (512 byte) blocks Cylinders Partition Status Type Start End Length % ========= ====== ======== ===== === ====== === THERE ARE NO PARTITIONS CURRENTLY DEFINED SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: 1. Create a partition 2. Change Active (Boot from) partition 3. Delete a partition 4. Exit (Update disk configuration and exit) 5. Cancel (Exit without updating disk configuration) Enter Selection:

8. Select option 1, Create a partition, to create an fdisk partition.

   Total disk size is 2694 cylinders Cylinder size is 765 (512 byte) blocks Cylinders Partition Status Type Start End Length % ========= ====== ======== ===== === ====== === THERE ARE NO PARTITIONS CURRENTLY DEFINED SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: 1. Create a partition 2. Change Active (Boot from) partition 3. Delete a partition 4. Exit (Update disk configuration and exit) 5. Cancel (Exit without updating disk configuration) Enter Selection: 1

9. Create a Solaris fdisk partition by selecting 1(=Solaris).

   Indicate the type of partition you want to create (1=SOLARIS, 2=UNIX, 3=PCIXOS, 4=Other, 8=DOSBIG) (5=DOS12, 6=DOS16, 7=DOSEXT, 0=Exit) ? 1

10. Identify the percentage of the disk to be reserved for the Solaris fdisk partition. Keep in mind the size of any existing fdisk partitions when you calculate this percentage.

    Indicate the percentage of the disk you want this partition to use (or enter "c" to specify in cylinders). nn

11. Activate the Solaris fdisk partition by typing y at the prompt.

    Do you want this to become the Active partition? If so, it will be activated each time you reset your computer or when you turn it on again. Please type "y" or "n". y

    The Enter Selection: prompt is displayed after the fdisk partition is activated.

12. Select option 1, Create a partition, to create another fdisk partition.

    See steps 9-11 for instructions on creating an fdisk partition.

13. Update the disk configuration and exit the fdisk menu from the selection menu.

    Selection: 4

14. Relabel the disk by using the label command.

    WARNING: Solaris fdisk partition changed - Please relabel the disk format> label Ready to label disk, continue? yes format>

15. Quit the format menu.

    format> quit

x86: Where to Go From Here

After you create a Solaris fdisk partition on the disk, you can create slices on the disk. Go to IA: How to Create Disk Slices and Label a Disk.

x86: Example—Creating a Solaris fdisk Partition That Spans the Entire Drive

The following example uses the format's utility's fdisk option to create a Solaris fdisk partition that spans the entire drive.

# format
Searching for disks...done
AVAILABLE DISK SELECTIONS:
       0. c0d0 <DEFAULT cyl 2466 alt 2 hd 16 sec 63>
          /pci@0,0/pci-ide@7,1/ide@0/cmdk@0,0
       1. c0d1 <DEFAULT cyl 522 alt 2 hd 32 sec 63>
          /pci@0,0/pci-ide@7,1/ide@0/cmdk@1,0
       2. c1d0 <DEFAULT cyl 13102 alt 2 hd 16 sec 63>
          /pci@0,0/pci-ide@7,1/ide@1/cmdk@0,0
Specify disk (enter its number): 0
selecting c0d0
Controller working list found
[disk formatted]
format> fdisk
The recommended default partitioning for your disk is:
 
  a 100% "SOLARIS System" partition.
 
To select this, please type "y".  To partition your disk
differently, type "n" and the "fdisk" program will let you
select other partitions. y
 
WARNING: Solaris fdisk partition changed - Please relabel the disk
format> label
Ready to label disk, continue? yes
format> quit

x86: Example—Creating a Solaris fdisk Partition While Preserving an Existing fdisk Partition

The following example shows how to create a Solaris fdisk partition on a disk that has an existing DOS-BIG fdisk partition.

format> fdisk
             Total disk size is 2694 cylinders
             Cylinder size is 765 (512 byte) blocks
                                         Cylinders
     Partition   Status    Type     Start  End   Length    %
     =========   ======   ========  =====   ===   ====== ===
        1                 DOS-BIG       1   538     538   20
SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
     1.   Create a partition
     2.   Change Active (Boot from) partition
     3.   Delete a partition
     4.   Exit (Update disk configuration and exit)
     5.   Cancel (Exit without updating disk configuration)
Enter Selection: 1
Indicate the type of partition you want to create
  (1=SOLARIS, 2=UNIX, 3=PCIXOS, 4=Other, 8=DOSBIG)
  (5=DOS12, 6=DOS16, 7=DOSEXT, 0=Exit) ?1
Indicate the percentage of the disk you want this partition
to use (or enter "c" to specify in cylinders). 80
Do you want this to become the Active partition? If so, it will be 
activated each time you reset your computer or when you turn it on 
again. Please type "y" or "n". y
Partition 2 is now the Active partition Total disk size is 2694 
cylinders
             Cylinder size is 765 (512 byte) blocks
                                         Cylinders
    Partition   Status    Type      Start   End   Length    %
    =========   ======    ========  =====   ===   ======   ===
        1                 DOS-BIG       1   538     538     20
        2       Active    SOLARIS     539  2693    2155     80
SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
     1.   Create a partition
     2.   Change Active (Boot from) partition
     3.   Delete a partition
     4.   Exit (Update disk configuration and exit)
     5.   Cancel (Exit without updating disk configuration)
Enter Selection: Selection: 4
WARNING: Solaris fdisk partition changed - Please relabel the disk
format> label
Ready to label disk, continue? yes
format> q

x86: Example—Creating a Solaris fdisk Partition and an Additional fdisk Partition

This following example shows how to create a Solaris fdisk partition and a DOSBIG fdisk partition.

format> fdisk
The recommended default partitioning for your disk is:
   a 100% "SOLARIS System" partition.
To select this, please type "y".  To partition your disk
differently, type "n" and the "fdisk" program will let you
select other partitions. n
             Total disk size is 2694 cylinders
             Cylinder size is 765 (512 byte) blocks
                                         Cylinders
    Partition   Status    Type      Start   End   Length    %
    =========   ======    ========  =====   ===   ======   ===
THERE ARE NO PARTITIONS CURRENTLY DEFINED SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
     1.   Create a partition
     2.   Change Active (Boot from) partition
     3.   Delete a partition
     4.   Exit (Update disk configuration and exit)
     5.   Cancel (Exit without updating disk configuration)
Enter Selection: 1
Indicate the type of partition you want to create
  (1=SOLARIS, 2=UNIX, 3=PCIXOS, 4=Other, 8=DOSBIG)
  (5=DOS12, 6=DOS16, 7=DOSEXT, 0=Exit) ?8
Indicate the percentage of the disk you want this partition
to use (or enter "c" to specify in cylinders). 20
Do you want this to become the Active partition? If so, it will be 
activated each time you reset your computer or when you turn it on 
again. Please type "y" or "n". n
             Total disk size is 2694 cylinders
             Cylinder size is 765 (512 byte) blocks
                                        Cylinders
    Partition   Status    Type      Start   End   Length    %
    =========   ======    ========  =====   ===   ======   ===
        1                 DOS-BIG       1   538     538     20
SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
     1.   Create a partition
     2.   Change Active (Boot from) partition
     3.   Delete a partition
     4.   Exit (Update disk configuration and exit)
     5.   Cancel (Exit without updating disk configuration)Enter
Selection: 1
Indicate the type of partition you want to create
  (1=SOLARIS, 2=UNIX, 3=PCIXOS, 4=Other, 8=DOSBIG)
  (5=DOS12, 6=DOS16, 7=DOSEXT, 0=Exit) ?1
Indicate the percentage of the disk you want this partition
to use (or enter "c" to specify in cylinders). 80
Do you want this to become the Active partition? If so, it will be 
activated each time you reset your computer or when you turn it on 
again. Please type "y" or "n". y
Partition 2 is now the Active partition Total disk size is 2694 
cylinders
            Cylinder size is 765 (512 byte) blocks
                                         Cylinders
    Partition   Status    Type      Start   End   Length    %
    =========   ======    ========  =====   ===   ======   ===
        1                 DOS-BIG       1   538     538     20
        2       Active    SOLARIS     539  2693    2155     80
 
SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
     1.   Create a partition
     2.   Change Active (Boot from) partition
     3.   Delete a partition
     4.   Exit (Update disk configuration and exit)
     5.   Cancel (Exit without updating disk configuration)
Enter Selection: 4
format> q

IA: How to Create Disk Slices and Label a Disk

1. Become superuser or assume an equivalent role.

2. Start the format utility.

   # format

3. Type the number of the disk that you want to repartition from the list displayed on your screen.

   Specify disk (enter its number): disk-number

   disk-number is the number of the disk that you want to repartition.

4. Select the partition menu.

   format> partition

5. Display the current partition (slice) table.

   partition> print

6. Start the modification process.

   partition> modify

7. Set the disk to all free hog.

   Choose base (enter number) [0]? 1

   For more information about the free hog slice, see Using the Free Hog Slice.

8. Create a new partition table by answering yes when prompted to continue.

   Do you wish to continue creating a new partition table based on above table[yes]? yes

9. Identify the free hog partition (slice) and the sizes of the slices when prompted.

   When adding a system disk, you must set up slices for:

   • root (slice 0) and swap (slice 1) and/or

   • /usr (slice 6)

   After you identify the slices, the new partition table is displayed.

10. Make the displayed partition table the current partition table by answering yes when asked.

    Okay to make this the current partition table[yes]? yes

    If you don't want the current partition table and you want to change it, answer no and go to Step 6.

11. Name the partition table.

    Enter table name (remember quotes): "partition-name"

    partition-name is the name for the new partition table.

12. Label the disk with the new partition table after you have finished allocating slices on the new disk.

    Ready to label disk, continue? yes

13. Quit the partition menu.

    partition> quit

14. Verify the new disk label.

    format> verify

15. Exit the format menu.

    format> quit

x86: Where to Go From Here

After you create disk slices and label the disk, you can create file systems on the disk. Go to IA: How to Create File Systems.

IA: How to Create File Systems

1. Become superuser or assume an equivalent role.

2. Create a file system for each slice.

   # newfs /dev/rdsk/cwtxdysz

   /dev/rdsk/cwtxdysz is the raw device for the file system to be created.

   For more information about the newfs command, see Chapter 38, Creating File Systems (Tasks) or newfs(1M).

3. Verify the new file system by mounting.

   # mount /dev/dsk/cwtxdysz /mnt # ls /mnt lost+found

x86: Where to Go From Here

IA: How to Install a Boot Block on a System Disk

1. Become superuser or assume an equivalent role.

2. Install the boot block on the system disk.

   # installboot /usr/platform/`uname -i`/lib/fs/ufs/pboot /usr/platform/`uname -i` /lib/fs/ufs/bootblk /dev/rdsk/cwtxdys2

   /usr/platform/`uname -i`/lib/fs/ufs/pboot	Is the partition boot file.
   /usr/platform/`uname -i`/lib/fs/ufs/bootblk	Is the boot block code.
   /dev/rdsk/cwtxdys2	Is the raw device name that represents the whole disk.

3. Verify that the boot blocks are installed by rebooting the system to run level 3.

   # init 6

x86: Example—Installing a Boot Block on a System Disk

# installboot /usr/platform/i86pc/lib/fs/ufs/pboot
 /usr/platform/i86pc/lib/fs/ufs/bootblk /dev/rdsk/c0t6d0s2