How To Format Harddrive in Linux/Unix Console

Here is a simple steps how to formatting a new harddrive in linux/unix console :

First, we need to take a look all partition in your server

[code]$fdisk -l
.....
.....
Disk /dev/hdd: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System[/code]

You will see a result above that tell /dev/hdd is have 320GB but don't have any partition on it.

We need to create a new partition for /dev/hdd with these steps below :

[code]$fdisk /dev/hdd
Command : n
Command Action : p
Partition Number : 1
First Cylinder : Enter
Last Cylinder : Enter
Command : p

Disk /dev/hdd: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdd1 1 38913 312568641 83 Linux

Command : w
The partition table has been altered!

Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.
Syncing disks.[/code]

You will see that /dev/hdd1 is ready to format
We need to verify all devices again before do a format

[code]$fdisk -l

......
Disk /dev/hdd: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdd1 1 38913 312568641 83 Linux


$ls -al /dev/hdd1
brw-r----- 1 root disk 22, 65 Sep 9 21:00 /dev/hdd1[/code]

Next, we will start formatting the harddrive partition file system with this command below

[code]$mkfs.ext3 /dev/hdd1
mke2fs 1.39 (29-May-2006)
Filesystem label=
OS type: Linux
Block size=4096 (log=2)
Fragment size=4096 (log=2)
39075840 inodes, 78142160 blocks
3907108 blocks (5.00%) reserved for the super user
First data block=0
Maximum filesystem blocks=4294967296
2385 block groups
32768 blocks per group, 32768 fragments per group
16384 inodes per group
Superblock backups stored on blocks:
32768, 98304, 163840, 229376, 294912, 819200, 884736, 1605632, 2654208,
4096000, 7962624, 11239424, 20480000, 23887872, 71663616

Writing inode tables: 1996/2385
.....

Writing inode tables: done
Creating journal (32768 blocks): done
Writing superblocks and filesystem accounting information:
done

This filesystem will be automatically checked every 24 mounts or
180 days, whichever comes first. Use tune2fs -c or -i to override.[/code]

Finally, We just need to mount the partition and your new harddrive is ready to use