Adding a Disk

Adding a new disk to a system involves a number of steps:

• Connecting the disk
• Creating the device files required to access the disk
• Low-level formatting of the disk
• Partitioning the disk
• Making a new filesystem on each partition
• Checking the integrity of the new filesystems

Creating Device Files

In order to access a disk device, the proper device nodes must exist in /dev. For most versions of UNIX, these were already created during the install of the operating system. Details can be found in the operating system specific sections below.

Low Level Formatting

Low-level formatting prepares a disk for use and maps out bad blocks (defects) on the drive. The actual process varies from drive to drive. Most SCSI disks come pre-formatted, so doing a low level format yourself is not really necessary.

Partitioning

Although it is possible to use a disk drive as one large filesystem, this is generally a bad idea. Partitioning is the process of splitting a disk up into several smaller sections, or partitions. Each partition is treated as an independent filesystem. This increases disk efficiency and organization by localizing data, makes it easier to back up sections of the filesystem, and helps to keep damage to one partition from affecting the entire drive.

Information for Specific Operating Systems

• IRIX
• HP-UX
• Solaris
• Linux