NAME

       tk_scsiformat - low level format an scsi disk device with a nice user interface

SYNOPSIS

       tk_scsiformat [device]

DESCRIPTION

       Low  level  formats  the SCSI device identified by the scsi disk or generic scsi device node device.  You
       must be root to perform this operation. When you do not specify a device, tk_scsiformat gives you a  list
       to select a disk device from.

       tk_scsiformat is a Tcl/Tk user interface to scsiformat(8).

       You  should  read  that  manual  page for the general operation of scsiformat.  All common X11 and Tcl/Tk
       options apply.

       By the nature of graphical user interfaces, there should not be much to explain here.  All  entry  fields
       refer directly to scsiformat(8) options.

       In  addition  to  those, you are able to save your selections to be used as defaults for this device next
       time in a file /usr/lib/scsi/scsiformat.defs.*  by pressing the <Save Defaults> button. This is  intended
       and  very handy for formatting of removable medias. Note, however, that tk_scsiformat is not as clever as
       scsiformat(8) (or even tries to be) to find if multiple ways to refer  to  the  same  scsi  device  (disk
       device, generic device).

       Furthermore,  you can select (or enter freely) a command to automatically make a file system on the newly
       formatted disk.

       While formatting a nice completion bar is drawn. Alas, I could not  really  implement  querying  progress
       from a target device yet.

       The  /usr/lib/scsi/tworands  binary  is  used  to calculate two random integers which is not supported by
       plain Tcl/Tk.

BUGS

       When not specifying a device to format, tk_scsiformat will prepare a list of disk devices to choose from.
       Alas,  if  a  blocking  format  operation  is  running  on one of them, tk_scsiformat will block in a non
       interruptible disk wait sleep.

       Old status files in /tmp will confuse tk_scsiformat.  However, they are removed after 48 hours.

       Restrictions of the SCSI_IOCTL_SEND_COMMAND ioctl(2) call for the sd(4)  device  make  it  impossible  to
       issue  a  FORMAT_UNIT  command with more than 4096 bytes of arguments. This could be avoided by using the
       proper generic scsi device /dev/sg* instead, at least where the kernel is compiled to support it. Most of
       the time this is not needed though and thus I'm myself to lazy to do it.

FILES

       /usr/lib/scsi/tworands
       /usr/lib/scsi/scsiformat.defs.*
       /tmp/scsiformat.xx:xx:xx:xx:xxxxxxxx
       /dev/sd*
       /dev/sg*

SEE ALSO

       scsiformat(8), scsiinfo(8), scsi-config(8), fdisk(8), sd(4).

AUTHOR

       Michael Weller <eowmob@exp-math.uni-essen.de>