MKFS(8)             UNIX Programmer's Manual		  MKFS(8)



NAME
     mkfs - construct a file system

SYNOPSIS
     /sbin/mkfs [ -i bytes ] [ -s size ] [ -m gap ] [ -n modulus
     ] special

DESCRIPTION
     N.B.: file systems are normally created with the _n_e_w_f_s(8)
     command.

     _M_k_f_s constructs a file system by writing on the special file
     _s_p_e_c_i_a_l.  The size of the filesystem in logical blocks is
     specified by the -s _s_i_z_e option.  Logical blocks are 1K (2
     sectors) under 2.11BSD.

	  NOTE: The newfs(8) program's -s option is in units of
	  sectors. Newfs(8) converts this to filesystem (logical)
	  blocks for mkfs(8).

     The number of inodes is calculated based on the argument
     _b_y_t_e_s to the -i option.  The default is 4096.  If more
     inodes are desired in a filesystem (there is an absolute
     maximum of 65500) then a lower value for _b_y_t_e_s should be
     used, perhaps 3072 or even 2048.

     The flags -m _g_a_p and -n _m_o_d_u_l_u_s determine the block inter-
     leaving of the freelist that will be constructed, where _g_a_p
     is the distance between successive 1024-byte blocks, and
     _m_o_d_u_l_u_s is the number of blocks before the pattern repeats,
     typically one cylinder.  The optimal values for these param-
     eters vary with the speed and geometry of the disk, as well
     as the speed of the processor. Newfs(8) will calculate the
     correct values in almost all cases from the disklabel.

SEE ALSO
     fs(5), dir(5), disklabel(8), fsck(8), mkproto(8) newfs(8)

BUGS
     The _l_o_s_t+_f_o_u_n_d directory is created but the boot block is
     left uninitialized (see disklabel(8).)














Printed 11/24/99	November 16, 1996			1