> > Yes, you can.
>
> How? Sending a SCSI format command to them returns more or less
> instantly...
Then how does it happen that scsiformat(8) works for me??? It actually
is a wrapper for the SCSI FORMAT_UNIT command.
> > And it makes sense for bad block remapping. Zip disks deteriorate
> > gradually when used heavily.
>
> why is badblocks(8) not sufficient?
Because it makes the usable area of the disk shrink. Whilst formatting
makes the drive configure the medium to make use of spare sectors/tracks
(automatic remapping is actually controlled with the Error Recovery mode
page).
If you are not convinced that Zips do actually have spare sectors then
`scsiinfo -d -Fphysical <your_zip_device>' will present you with the
manufacturer and the grown defect tables. The latter is usually empty for
brand new disks while the former contains a number of entries differing
from disk to disk.
-- + Maciej W. Rozycki, Technical University of Gdansk, Poland + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + e-mail: macro@ds2.pg.gda.pl, PGP key available +
- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/