NAME

       ndctl-init-labels - initialize the label data area on a dimm or set of dimms

SYNOPSIS

       ndctl init-labels <nmem0> [<nmem1>..<nmemN>] [<options>]

DESCRIPTION

       The namespace label area is a small persistent partition of capacity available on some
       NVDIMM devices. The label area is used to resolve aliasing between pmem and blk capacity
       by delineating namespace boundaries. By default, and in kernels prior to v4.10, the kernel
       only honors labels when a DIMM aliases PMEM and BLK capacity. Starting with v4.10 the
       kernel will honor labels for sub-dividing PMEM if all the DIMMs in an interleave set /
       region have a valid namespace index block.

       This command can be used to initialize the namespace index block if it is missing or
       reinitialize it if it is damaged. Note that reinitialization effectively destroys all
       existing namespace labels on the DIMM.

EXAMPLE

       Find the DIMMs that comprise a given region:

           .ft C
           # ndctl list -RD --region=region1
           {
             "dimms":[
               {
                 "dev":"nmem0",
                 "id":"8680-56341200"
               }
             ],
             "regions":[
               {
                 "dev":"region1",
                 "size":268435456,
                 "available_size":0,
                 "type":"pmem",
                 "mappings":[
                   {
                     "dimm":"nmem0",
                     "offset":13958643712,
                     "length":268435456
                   }
                 ]
               }
             ]
           }
           .ft

       Disable that region so the DIMM label area can be written from userspace:

           .ft C
           # ndctl disable-region region1
           .ft

       Initialize labels:

           .ft C
           # ndctl init-labels nmem0
           .ft

       Re-enable the region:

           .ft C
           # ndctl enable-region region1
           .ft

       Create a namespace in that region:

           .ft C
           # ndctl create-namespace --region=region1
           .ft

OPTIONS

       <memory device(s)>
           One or more nmemX device names. The keyword all can be specified to operate on every
           dimm in the system, optionally filtered by bus id (see --bus= option).

       -b, --bus=
           Limit operation to memory devices (dimms) that are on the given bus. Where bus can be
           a provider name or a bus id number.

       -v
           Turn on verbose debug messages in the library (if ndctl was built with logging and
           debug enabled).

       -f, --force
           Force initialization of the label space even if there appears to be an existing /
           valid namespace index. Warning, this will destroy all defined namespaces on the dimm.

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright (c) 2016 - 2018, Intel Corporation. License GPLv2: GNU GPL version 2
       http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html. This is free software: you are free to change and
       redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

SEE ALSO

       ndctl-create-namespace(1), UEFI NVDIMM Label Protocol[1]

NOTES

        1. UEFI NVDIMM Label Protocol
           http://www.uefi.org/sites/default/files/resources/UEFI_Spec_2_7.pdf