IBM Netfinity 5100 User Reference Manual page 35

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SCSI Disk Utilities
Select this choice to view the SCSI IDs that are assigned to each device or to
format a SCSI device.
To use the utility program, select a drive from the list. Read the screens carefully
before making a selection.
Note: If you press Ctrl+A before the selected drives are ready, an Unexpected
SCSI Command Failure screen might appear. Restart the server and
watch the SCSISelect messages as each drive spins up. After the drive
that you want to view or format spins up, press Ctrl+A.
• Format Disk
Attention: The Low-Level Format program erases all data and programs.
Select this choice to perform a low-level format on a hard disk drive. Depending
on the hard disk drive capacity, the Low-Level Format program could take up to
two hours.
Use the Low-Level Format program:
— When you are installing software that requires a low-level format
— When you get recurring messages from the diagnostic tests directing you to
run the Low-Level Format program on the hard disk drive
— As a last resort before replacing a failing hard disk drive
Note: If your server has a PCI RAID adapter installed, refer to the RAID
adapter documentation for instructions for performing low-level
formats on hard disk drives attached to the adapter.
To start the Low-Level Format program:
1. If the hard disk is working, make a backup copy of all the files and programs
on the hard disk drive. (See your operating system information for
instructions.)
2. Select Format Disk; then, follow the instructions on the screen.
Note: Hard disks normally contain more tracks than their stated capacity
(to allow for defective tracks). A message appears on the screen if
the defect limit is reached. If this happens, have the system
serviced.
Using the SCSISelect utility program
Chapter 3. Configuring your server
21