diff --git a/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/disks/chapter.sgml b/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/disks/chapter.sgml index 89d197ee3a..de1318e8b6 100644 --- a/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/disks/chapter.sgml +++ b/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/disks/chapter.sgml @@ -776,6 +776,255 @@ Filesystem 1K-blocks Used Avail Capacity Mounted on &prompt.root; kill -HUP `cat /var/run/inetd.pid` + + + + + + Julio + Merino + Contributed by + + + + + + Floppy disks + + Floppy disks are, nowadays, an old-fashioned medium to + store/share data. Although, there are still some times when you + need to use them, because you do not have any other removable + storage media or you need to use what you have saved in them on + any other computer. + + This section will explain how to use floppy disks in + FreeBSD, that is, formating and copying/restoring data from + them. But... I really have written this to help you about how to + create forced-size floppies. + + + The device + + Floppy disks are accessed through entries in + /dev (like any other device). To access the + raw floppy disk you can use /dev/rfdX, + where X stands for the drive number, usually 0. When the disk is + formatted you can use /dev/fdX, or + whichever of the other devices named + /dev/fdXY, where Y stands for a + letter. These are all the same. + + Other important devices are + /dev/fdX.size, where size is a floppy disk + size in kilobytes. These entries are used at low-level format + time to determine the disk size. + + Sometimes you will have to (re)create these entries under + /dev. To do it, you can issue: + + &prompt.root; cd /dev && ./MAKEDEV "fd*" + + + + Formatting + + A floppy disk needs to be low-level formated before it can + be used. This is usually done by the vendor but you may want to + do it to check media integrity or to force the disk capacity to + be bigger. + + To format the floppy at a low-level fashion you need to + use fdformat. This utility expects + the device name as an argument. We will use those + /dev/fdX.size devices, which will allow us + to format the floppy to its real size, or force them. So you + insert a new 3.5inch floppy disk in your drive and issue: + + &prompt.root; /usr/sbin/fdformat /dev/rfd0.1440 + + This will take a while... You should notice any disk error + here (this can help you determining which disks are good or + bad). + + To force the floppy disk size, we will use other entries + in /dev. Get the same floppy and issue: + + &prompt.root; /usr/sbin/fdformat /dev/rfd0.1720 + + It will take some more time than before (forced disks are + slower). When it finishes, you will have a 1720kb floppy disk, + but for the moment you will not notice any difference. You may + use other disk sizes that you can find in /dev, but the most + stable/compatible is the 1720kb for 3.5inch disks. + + + + The disklabel + + After low-level formatting the disk, you will need to + place a disklabel on it. This disklabel will be destroyed + later, but it is needed by the system to determine the size of + the disk and its geometry later. + + The new disklabel will take over the whole disk, and will + contain all the proper information about the geometry of the + normal or forced floppy. Take a look to + /etc/disktab now; you will see geometry + values of all kinds of floppy disks. + + You can run now disklabel + like: + + &prompt.root; /sbin/disklabel -B -r -w /dev/rfd0 fdsize + + Replace fdsize with fd1440, fd1720 or whichever size you + want. The last field instructs disklabel which entry to take + from /etc/disktab to use. + + + + The filesystem + + Now your floppy is ready to be high-level formated. This + will place a new filesystem on it, which will let FreeBSD read + and write to the disk. After creating the new filesystem, the + disklabel is destroyed, so if you want to reformat the disk, you + will have to recreate the disklabel another time. + + You can choose now which filesystem to use on your floppy. + You can use UFS or FAT, though UFS is not a good idea for + floppies. Choose FAT which is nice for floppies. + + To put a new filesystem on the floppy do this: + + &prompt.root; /sbin/newfs_msdos /dev/fd0 + + As we created a disklabel before, newfs + will be able to fetch disk data and construct the new + filesystem. And now, your disk is ready for use... + + + + Using the floppy + + You have two choices to use the floppy. You can either + mount the disk with mount_msdos, or you can + use mtools. + Mtools are great, but you will need + to install them from the ports system. + + Try it; issue a mdir. If you forced the + disk, you will notice its extra size! + + A last note about forced disks: they are compatible with + practically all other operating systems without any external + utility to read/write them. Microsoft systems will recognize + them without problems. But note that there may be times when the + floppy drive itself is not able to read them (this may happen + with very old drives). + + + + + Backups to Floppies + + + Can I Use floppies for Backing Up My Data? + backup floppies + floppy disks + + Floppy disks are not really a suitable media for + making backups as: + + + + The media is unreliable, especially over long periods of + time. + + + + Backing up and restoring is very slow. + + + + They have a very limited capacity (the days of backing up + an entire hard disk onto a dozen or so floppies has long since + passed). + + + + However, if you have no other method of backing up your data then + floppy disks are better than no backup at all. + + If you do have to use floppy disks then ensure that you use good + quality ones. Floppies that have been lying around the office for a + couple of years are a bad choice. Ideally use new ones from a + reputable manufacturer. + + + + So How Do I Backup My Data to Floppies? + + The best way to backup to floppy disk is to use + tar with the (multi + volume) option, which allows backups to span multiple + floppies. + + To backup all the files in the current directory and sub-directory + use this (as root): + + &prompt.root; tar Mcvf /dev/fd0 * + + When the first floppy is full tar will prompt you to + insert the next volume (because tar is media independent it + refers to volumes; in this context it means floppy disk). + + Prepare volume #2 for /dev/fd0 and hit return: + + This is repeated (with the volume number incrementing) until all + the specified files have been archived. + + + + Can I Compress My Backups? + + tar + + + gzip + + compression + + Unfortunately, tar will not allow the + option to be used for multi-volume archives. + You could, of course, gzip all the files, + tar them to the floppies, then + gunzip the files again! + + + + How Do I Restore My Backups? + + To restore the entire archive use: + + &prompt.root; tar Mxvf /dev/fd0 + + There are two ways that you can use to restore only + specific files. First, you can start with the first floppy + and use: + + &prompt.root; tar Mxvf /dev/fd0 filename + + tar will prompt you to insert subsequent floppies until it + finds the required file. + + Alternatively, if you know which floppy the file is on then you + can simply insert that floppy and use the same command as above. Note + that if the first file on the floppy is a continuation from the + previous one then tar will warn you that it cannot + restore it, even if you have not asked it to! + + @@ -1951,258 +2200,9 @@ echo "The floppy has been unmounted and is now ready."]]> - - - - - - Julio - Merino - Contributed by - - - - - - Floppy disks - - Floppy disks are, nowadays, an old-fashioned medium to - store/share data. Although, there are still some times when you - need to use them, because you do not have any other removable - storage media or you need to use what you have saved in them on - any other computer. - - This section will explain how to use floppy disks in - FreeBSD, that is, formating and copying/restoring data from - them. But... I really have written this to help you about how to - create forced-size floppies. - - - The device - - Floppy disks are accessed through entries in - /dev (like any other device). To access the - raw floppy disk you can use /dev/rfdX, - where X stands for the drive number, usually 0. When the disk is - formatted you can use /dev/fdX, or - whichever of the other devices named - /dev/fdXY, where Y stands for a - letter. These are all the same. - - Other important devices are - /dev/fdX.size, where size is a floppy disk - size in kilobytes. These entries are used at low-level format - time to determine the disk size. - - Sometimes you will have to (re)create these entries under - /dev. To do it, you can issue: - - &prompt.root; cd /dev && ./MAKEDEV "fd*" - - - - Formatting - - A floppy disk needs to be low-level formated before it can - be used. This is usually done by the vendor but you may want to - do it to check media integrity or to force the disk capacity to - be bigger. - - To format the floppy at a low-level fashion you need to - use fdformat. This utility expects - the device name as an argument. We will use those - /dev/fdX.size devices, which will allow us - to format the floppy to its real size, or force them. So you - insert a new 3.5inch floppy disk in your drive and issue: - - &prompt.root; /usr/sbin/fdformat /dev/rfd0.1440 - - This will take a while... You should notice any disk error - here (this can help you determining which disks are good or - bad). - - To force the floppy disk size, we will use other entries - in /dev. Get the same floppy and issue: - - &prompt.root; /usr/sbin/fdformat /dev/rfd0.1720 - - It will take some more time than before (forced disks are - slower). When it finishes, you will have a 1720kb floppy disk, - but for the moment you will not notice any difference. You may - use other disk sizes that you can find in /dev, but the most - stable/compatible is the 1720kb for 3.5inch disks. - - - - The disklabel - - After low-level formatting the disk, you will need to - place a disklabel on it. This disklabel will be destroyed - later, but it is needed by the system to determine the size of - the disk and its geometry later. - - The new disklabel will take over the whole disk, and will - contain all the proper information about the geometry of the - normal or forced floppy. Take a look to - /etc/disktab now; you will see geometry - values of all kinds of floppy disks. - - You can run now disklabel - like: - - &prompt.root; /sbin/disklabel -B -r -w /dev/rfd0 fdsize - - Replace fdsize with fd1440, fd1720 or whichever size you - want. The last field instructs disklabel which entry to take - from /etc/disktab to use. - - - - The filesystem - - Now your floppy is ready to be high-level formated. This - will place a new filesystem on it, which will let FreeBSD read - and write to the disk. After creating the new filesystem, the - disklabel is destroyed, so if you want to reformat the disk, you - will have to recreate the disklabel another time. - - You can choose now which filesystem to use on your floppy. - You can use UFS or FAT, though UFS is not a good idea for - floppies. Choose FAT which is nice for floppies. - - To put a new filesystem on the floppy do this: - - &prompt.root; /sbin/newfs_msdos /dev/fd0 - - As we created a disklabel before, newfs - will be able to fetch disk data and construct the new - filesystem. And now, your disk is ready for use... - - - - Using the floppy - - You have two choices to use the floppy. You can either - mount the disk with mount_msdos, or you can - use mtools. - Mtools are great, but you will need - to install them from the ports system. - - Try it; issue a mdir. If you forced the - disk, you will notice its extra size! - - A last note about forced disks: they are compatible with - practically all other operating systems without any external - utility to read/write them. Microsoft systems will recognize - them without problems. But note that there may be times when the - floppy drive itself is not able to read them (this may happen - with very old drives). - - - - - Backups to Floppies - - - Can I Use floppies for Backing Up My Data? - backup floppies - floppy disks - - Floppy disks are not really a suitable media for - making backups as: - - - - The media is unreliable, especially over long periods of - time. - - - - Backing up and restoring is very slow. - - - - They have a very limited capacity (the days of backing up - an entire hard disk onto a dozen or so floppies has long since - passed). - - - - However, if you have no other method of backing up your data then - floppy disks are better than no backup at all. - - If you do have to use floppy disks then ensure that you use good - quality ones. Floppies that have been lying around the office for a - couple of years are a bad choice. Ideally use new ones from a - reputable manufacturer. - - - - So How Do I Backup My Data to Floppies? - - The best way to backup to floppy disk is to use - tar with the (multi - volume) option, which allows backups to span multiple - floppies. - - To backup all the files in the current directory and sub-directory - use this (as root): - - &prompt.root; tar Mcvf /dev/fd0 * - - When the first floppy is full tar will prompt you to - insert the next volume (because tar is media independent it - refers to volumes; in this context it means floppy disk). - - Prepare volume #2 for /dev/fd0 and hit return: - - This is repeated (with the volume number incrementing) until all - the specified files have been archived. - - - - Can I Compress My Backups? - - tar - - - gzip - - compression - - Unfortunately, tar will not allow the - option to be used for multi-volume archives. - You could, of course, gzip all the files, - tar them to the floppies, then - gunzip the files again! - - - - How Do I Restore My Backups? - - To restore the entire archive use: - - &prompt.root; tar Mxvf /dev/fd0 - - There are two ways that you can use to restore only - specific files. First, you can start with the first floppy - and use: - - &prompt.root; tar Mxvf /dev/fd0 filename - - tar will prompt you to insert subsequent floppies until it - finds the required file. - - Alternatively, if you know which floppy the file is on then you - can simply insert that floppy and use the same command as above. Note - that if the first file on the floppy is a continuation from the - previous one then tar will warn you that it cannot - restore it, even if you have not asked it to! - - - - Tape Backup Media + + Tapes and FreeBSD tape media The major tape media are the 4mm, 8mm, QIC, mini-cartridge and