I have managed to install and configure a Solaris x86 server, the problem I have now is that whilst setting it up, I left a 30GB logical partition for the Oracle database server that I will later have on the system, the problem now is that I have not formatted the drive during the setup, and now I cannot see it whilst running df - k.
I tried using the format command, and it asks me for a disk number, the only disk I can see is the logical partition where the root has been mounted. Is there anyway to utilise/use this 30GB partition which is on the system.
I'm not sure if I understand your problem properly.
See, physically how many disks you have ?
if it's just one disk, then through the format command, you have to assign the 30 GB to one of the slots, create newfs, then mount it, this is how you can see it in df -k.
Thanks for the reply, there is one physial disk and during the Solaris installation, I set aside a 30GB partition, when I use the format command, it says enter disk number, there is only one disk which is disk no 0, this is the disk where the root it as well, what I was expecting was to see another for 30GB i.e disk number 2, but I cant see that either, so really I need away that will allow me to see the disk partitions again, this would have to be outside of the Solaris Os after startup I guess.
I think during the setup, I didnt set the 30GB to be of a Solaris format type, this probably explains why I cant see it now as it thinks its a foreign/unknown disk etc
bash-3.00# echo |format
Searching for disks...done
AVAILABLE DISK SELECTIONS:
0. c1d0 <DEFAULT cyl 2882 alt 2 hd 255 sec 63>
/pci@0,0/pci-ide@1f,2/ide@0/cmdk@0,0
Specify disk (enter its number): Specify disk (enter its number):
This disk being shown on top is not the one that I am after, this is only a 20Gb partition where the root resides as well, but I did leave a 30GB partition for Oracle, thats what I am trying to mount onto u01.
One way to get to the disk config is by inserting the Solaris CD and trying to rebuild/reisntall, then one will get a screen where you can configure disk etc, but I want to avoid doing this as I have already done this twice and now that I have applied all patches etc, I dont really want to re-install the OS again.
I would expect the 30Gb not to be mapped under any kind of root, swap etc, below is the option that comes up after pressing disk 0. how can i get the format command to display the other logical disks, eg disk 0, 1 etc..
bash-3.00# format
Searching for disks...done
AVAILABLE DISK SELECTIONS:
0. c1d0 <DEFAULT cyl 2882 alt 2 hd 255 sec 63>
/pci@0,0/pci-ide@1f,2/ide@0/cmdk@0,0
Specify disk (enter its number): 0
selecting c1d0
Controller working list found
[disk formatted, defect list found]
Warning: Current Disk has mounted partitions.
/dev/dsk/c1d0s0 is currently mounted on /. Please see umount(1M).
/dev/dsk/c1d0s1 is currently used by swap. Please see swap(1M).
/dev/dsk/c1d0s7 is currently mounted on /export/home. Please see umount(1M).
there is one physical disk split into 3 partitions, one running windows xp, other is solaris and the last one is just a 30GB which i reserve for Oracle which i want to install now.
dude I understand, root and swap are mounted, that's normal
now check the other slices, and see the available space !!
you have 2882 cylinders , see what's available.
i told you, from the format menu, choose the "partition", then choose "print". Slice 2 is the total space available, see how much is left ! you should know how to use the format menu. Google some examples
AVAILABLE DISK SELECTIONS:
0. c1d0 <DEFAULT cyl 2882 alt 2 hd 255 sec 63>
/pci@0,0/pci-ide@1f,2/ide@0/cmdk@0,0
Specify disk (enter its number): 0
selecting c1d0
Controller working list found
[disk formatted, defect list found]
Warning: Current Disk has mounted partitions.
/dev/dsk/c1d0s0 is currently mounted on /. Please see umount(1M).
/dev/dsk/c1d0s1 is currently used by swap. Please see swap(1M).
Total disk size is 19457 cylinders
Total disk size is 19457 cylinders
Cylinder size is 16065 (512 byte) blocks
Cylinders
Partition Status Type Start End Length %
========= ====== ============ ===== === ====== ===
1 DOS-BIG 1 12748 12748 66
2 Active Solaris2 12749 15632 2884 15
3 DOS-BIG 15633 19456 3824 20
SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
Create a partition
Specify the active partition
Delete a partition
Change between Solaris and Solaris2 Partition IDs
Exit (update disk configuration and exit)
Cancel (exit without updating disk configuration)
Enter Selection:
This is what I get when i try to use FDISK, nothing there looks like a 30GB partition, also I wasnt expecting any percentage to have been used out of the 30GB is this was meant to be empty recently formatted partition somewhere.
This is not fully correct. In an x86 system, the amount of space available does not always equate to what is seen in the format command. I can for example create multiple solaris fdisk partitions smaller than the entire size of the disk and have them individually show up in format.
An example of this in this system is that the Windows partition doesn't show up anywhere.
use fdisk.
Delete partition 3, then create it again as a solaris partition.