INITIALIZE - Initialize a Disk with a File System

The INITIALIZE command creates a new file system on a disk. Once the file system is initialized, it can be used to store files.

INITIALIZE Dialogue

Init> DISK INITIALIZE

Response - Type DISK INITIALIZE at the main Init prompt.

Disk init (DISKA0) >

Explanation - INITIALIZE prompts you for the disk to initialize.  The default disk is shown in parentheses.

Response - Press Enter to select the default disk or type the name of the disk to initialize.  If you type a ? or HELP in response to the prompt, you will be shown the help text at this level.

This device appears to have an existing public file system, labeled "System"

Any existing data on the device will be lost.  Continue? <NO>

Explanation - If a file system has already been initialized on this disk, you are informed of the fact.  INITIALIZE asks you to confirm that you realize that any existing data on the disk will be lost if you continue the initialization.

Response - If you do not wish to proceed, you should choose the default of NO.  If you type YES, the initialization will continue.

Proceed? <No>

Explanation - This is the final chance to abort the initialization operation.

Response - If you respond with YES, the existing data on the disk will be erased and a new file system will be initialized on the disk.  If you choose the default or type NO, the initialization will be canceled and the data on the disk will not be erased.

.10%.20%.30%.40%.50%.60%.70%.80%.90%.100%

No bad clusters found

Explanation - As the initialization progresses, INITIALIZE display the percentage complete.  When complete, the number of bad clusters that were found is displayed.

Long INITIALIZE Dialogue

If you type /Q after the disk name, INITIALIZE will ask you several questions about how to initialize the disk.  If you do not include the switch, the disk is initialized with the default settings.  For example:

Disk init (DISKA0) > DISKA1/Q

The following questions are asked if you specify /Q:

Number of patterns: <3>

Explanation - INITIALIZE is asking how many patterns to initialize the disk with.  Each pattern is a different combination of bits that is written to every location on the disk.  Three patterns are enough to completely erase any previous data, in accordance with the DoD 5220.22-M standard for data sanitization.  Three patterns can also ensure that any bad spots on the disk are found and added to the badblocks file so that data is not written to those unreliable spots.

Response - You can choose as many patterns as you want, but the more patterns chosen, the longer it will take to initialize the disk.  You may choose 0 patterns to skip this step, or you may choose 1 pattern to set all bytes on the disk to 0.  Note that if you run no patterns, some of the previous data on the disk may be left on the disk and available to unscrupulous people.

Volume Label: <System>

Explanation - INITIALIZE asks for the label used to identify the disk.  The default is "System".

Response - Press Enter to select the default label, or enter the label you want the disk to have.

Volume Password: <none>

Explanation - INITIALIZE asks for password to use to restrict access to this disk.  The default is to have no password.

Response - Press Enter to choose the default of no password, or enter a password.  Note that anything you type in response to this prompt is not shown (echoed) for security purposes.

Verify Password:

Explanation - INITIALIZE asks you to verify the password to make sure you typed in what you thought you typed.  This question is not asked if you did not enter a password at the previous prompt.  Note that anything you type in response to this prompt is not shown (echoed) for security purposes.

Response - Enter the same password you entered in the previous prompt.

Disk Cluster Size: <512>

Explanation - A cluster is a fixed number of disk sectors that are allocated contiguously on a disk.  The disk cluster size is the minimum amount of space that can be allocated to a file on the disk.  The default is shown in angle brackets.  The larger the cluster size, the faster that files can be accessed.  The smaller the cluster size, the less space is wasted.  On average, one-half of this number of bytes is wasted per file.  For instance, with a cluster size of 512, an average of 256 bytes will be wasted per file.

Response - Press Enter to choose the default, or enter the cluster size, in bytes.  Note that the cluster size cannot be less than the sector size, and must be a multiple of the disk's sector size.

Folder Cluster Size: <512>

Explanation - INITIALIZE asks you for the folder cluster size for the disk.  The default is shown in angle brackets.  This indicates the size of folder extents.

Response - Press Enter to choose the default, or enter the folder cluster size, in bytes.  Not that the folder cluster size cannot be less than the disk cluster size and must be a multiple of the disk's cluster size.

Public or Private: <PUBLIC>

Explanation - INITIALIZE asks if you want the disk to be marked as a public or private disk.  The default is in the angle brackets.

Response - Press Enter to choose the default of public, or type PRIVATE to mark the disk as private.  All public disks on UOS are considered together as a common pool of storage - essentially creating a single large disk that is the size of the sum of all public disks.  Private disks are treated separately.

SAT position: <523776>

Explanation - The Store Allocation Table (SAT) is a file that controls the use of disk space.  Each time you extend or delete files, the SAT must be updated.  The question asks where you want to place this file on the disk.  The default indicates a position near the center of the disk.  It is advantageous to place the SAT in the center of the disk to reduce the average seek times for accessing the table.  However, you may locate the SAT in a different place to reduce fragmentation if you have large contiguous files.

Response - Press Enter to place the SAT in the center of the disk, or enter an offset on the disk where the table should be kept.  Note that whatever number you enter, the table will always start on a cluster boundary.

Proceed? <No>

Explanation - This is the final chance to abort the initialization operation.

Response - If you respond with YES, the existing data on the disk will be erased and a new file system will be initialized on the disk.  If you choose the default or type NO, the initialization will be canceled and the data on the disk will not be erased.

Error Messages

nnnnnn bad clusters found

This is an informational notice of the number of bad clusters found while writing patterns.

File System initialization error: xxxxxx

This indicates a disk error during the file system initialization.

Invalid cluster size

The cluster size is not numeric, or less than the disk's sector size, or not a multiple of the disk's sector size.  For folder cluster size this can also indicate that the size is not a multiple of the disk cluster size.

Invalid pattern count

The value entered for patterns is not numeric or less than 0.

Invalid position

The SAT position is not numeric, or before the first cluster, or after the last available cluster on the disk.

Passwords do not match

The password entered for verification did not match the previously-entered password.  The passwords must match.