Sidebar: So... you can format a non-fullpack (see: P.S. below) minidisk for a Linux server with ICKDSF (with as many levels of security cleansing as required) . Or you can even format it with CMS' FORMAT command (although not with "Mr. Clean" security cleansing; but see previous posts about ancient, perhaps non-applicable security practices).
But both ICKDSF and CMS FORMAT still require you to format the non-fullpack minidisk on Linux with dasdfmt or some other Linux utility. Or... you can use only "LXFMT" from CMS and Linux will see the non-fullpack minidisk properly formatted when looks even the very first time. **NO SECOND FORMAT REQUIRED**!! REPEAT: **ONLY ONE FORMAT REQUIRED** (of the allocated Linux mdisk). Hence the "Subject:" above: Format Linux mdisks only ONCE (security policies permitting)! Where is LXFMT found? At the site of the good folks at Sine Nomine Associates: http://www.sinenomine.net/products/vm/lxfmt It was written, donated, and is supported by Rick Bourgeois at Virtual Software Systems, Inc. Thank you Rick! Out I/O subsystem thanks you, too! :-) Mike Walter Hewitt Associates Any opinions expressed herein are mine alone and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of Hewitt Associates. P.S. We ARE all using CPFMTXA (or ICKDSF) to format cylinder zero so that the DASD pack looks completely full to z/OS, right? I.e. the dummy VTOC written by ICKDSF (called under-the-covers by CPFMTXA) indicates "no room at the inn". And... we're all leaving cylinder zero not allocated to Linux for System z guests, right? I.e. start your Linux for System z minidisk allocations at cylinder 1 or higher. If Linux formats cylinder zero on the real DASD, all allocation bets are off. z/OS may write over some of your carefully allocated Linux for System z space, since the dummy VTOC has been formatted over by dasdfmt or whatever you used. "Rob van der Heij" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent by: "The IBM z/VM Operating System" <IBMVM@LISTSERV.UARK.EDU> 12/08/2008 05:02 PM Please respond to "The IBM z/VM Operating System" <IBMVM@LISTSERV.UARK.EDU> To IBMVM@LISTSERV.UARK.EDU cc Subject Re: CPFMTXA Multiple drives On Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 3:37 PM, Dean, David (I/S) <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > When building new Linux boxes, I have to format several drives. I normally > log as Maint and do them one at a time. Is there a way to do multiple > drives simultaneously, or log to Maint sessions multiple times? Since these are "user volumes" there is no value in doing CPFMTXA or ICKDSF FORMAT on them. When you hand the mini disk to Linux it will have to format it anyway (unless you can flashcopy a similar device that was already formatted by Linux). All you need is the first cylinder to hold the label. And that is probably already done by the DASD subsystem when you create the logical volume, so all you need is to relabel it. That's quick enough I think... -Rob The information contained in this e-mail and any accompanying documents may contain information that is confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, please immediately alert the sender by reply e-mail and then delete this message, including any attachments. Any dissemination, distribution or other use of the contents of this message by anyone other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. All messages sent to and from this e-mail address may be monitored as permitted by applicable law and regulations to ensure compliance with our internal policies and to protect our business. E-mails are not secure and cannot be guaranteed to be error free as they can be intercepted, amended, lost or destroyed, or contain viruses. You are deemed to have accepted these risks if you communicate with us by e-mail.
