Format command?

[Tom Spence_1]

Hi,

I am using HP 877 10.20...

What command do I use for erase/format all hard drives?

Thanks!

[John Carr_2]

Hi

to remove all the files from a disk

cd /disk_mount_point

rm -r *

there is generally no need to format HP disks is there any particular reason for wanting to do this ?

John.

[Graham Cameron_1 · Accepted solution]

I think you want mediainit.

See "man mediainit".

-- Graham

[Mark Grant]

if you really need to delete information, you could "dd if=/dev/zero of=" until it falls over. This should work though I've never tried it.

[Pete Randall]

I've read repeated reports of disk usability issues after mediainit. I would suggest that you stick to the dd command offered by Mark. If you're trying to wipe drives before resale of the machine, you can load a fresh copy of HP-UX on the root drive and wipe all the others with dd.

If your trying to clear drives for your own reuse, you're going about it the wrong way entirely.


Pete

[Tom Spence_1]

Okay, great...

Surely, I am using ioscan -funC disk first.

Now, tell me how can I wipe it out by using dd command?

Like this: dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/rdsk/xx

Right?

[Pete Randall]

Tom,

Exactly!

But, I still ask what you are trying to accomplish.


Pete

[Massimo Bianchi]

Just in case you do not have /dev/zero:

IGOR >> ll /dev/zero
crw-rw-rw- 1 bin sys 3 0x000004 May 17 2002 /dev/zero

[John Carr_2]

If you are going to rebuild this system and reinstall the o/s the new installation will zap all the disks and existing files.

why are you needing to do this ?

John.

[Tom Spence_1]

We are no longer to use the HP 877!!! So we need to format/erase all disks before throw all HP server/storages away...

[John Carr_2]

If you are throwing the disks away a hammer may be the best tool for piece of mind :-)

John.

[Tom Spence_1]

LOL...

True but I am working for the Pentagon so I HAVE to format/erase all disks NO MATTER WHAT!

All I do is:

ioscan -funC disk
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/rdsk/xxxx

Hope it works... Smile.

Tom

[Pete Randall]

Tom,

If you are throwing it away and there is no need for *anyone* to be able to access the disks then mediainit is fine. I don't know as I see any real advantage over using the dd command, though. In fact, I think dd might be faster. I would suggest:

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/rdsk/cXtYdZ bs=1024k

for all non root drives, and rm -rf /* for the root drive.

Have fun!


Pete

[Pete Randall]

Or, and I mean this seriously, a large magnet will do wonders (of the disastrous type).


Pete

[Tom Spence_1]

Yes, we might have to degauss at other office... But how easy for me to take hard drive off, just pull? If screw then waste my time... Any suggest?

[Pete Randall]

Tom,

I'm not familiar with your 877, but I'm guessing you would have to open the case to access the hard drive and then pass the magnet over it, though you might be able to do it through the case - you could try waving the magnet at it and then see if it boots.

Otherwise, I would go back to my earlier suggestion: use "dd" on the non-root drives and "rm -rf" or "dd" on the root drive. Either way, the drive is going to be pretty well trashed.


Pete

[Mark Grant]

How about blowing a handfull of iron fillings in there, you could take out the whole machine in one easy step!