Red Hat Bugzilla – Bug 136390
fdisk makes sgi disklabels with huge volume headers
Last modified: 2007-11-30 17:07:13 EST
Description of problem: fdisk makes invalid sgi disklabels - volume header is too large Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): util-linux-2.12a-6 (and all earlier) fdisk automatically allocates the volume header partition as a fraction of available disk space; for large storage this can result in a huge waste of space. Irix's "fx" tool defaults to 4k blocks, it makes sense for fdisk to do this as well. The size can always be increased manually. This patch has already been sent to Andries (util-linux maintainer): --- util-linux-2.11y/fdisk/fdisksgilabel.c.orig 2004-06-08 16:23:40.000000000 -0500 +++ util-linux-2.11y/fdisk/fdisksgilabel.c 2004-06-08 16:24:14.000000000 -0500 @@ -632,8 +632,8 @@ * (like sash, symmon, fx, ide) with ca. 3200 * sectors. */ - if( heads * sectors * 5 < sgi_get_lastblock() ) - sgi_set_partition( n, 0, heads * sectors * 5, SGI_VOLHDR ); + if( 4096 < sgi_get_lastblock() ) + sgi_set_partition( n, 0, 4096, SGI_VOLHDR ); break; } } upstream parted also uses this same caculation. (This is a bug in RHEL3 as well - if you can push the fix back there too that'd be great.) Thanks, -Eric
I'm wondering how to reconcile this change with the changes suggested in #140437... Is there a conflict? A RHEL3 erratum is extremely unlikely, but the fix definitely makes sense for the devel tree.
It looks like fx will make the default volume header 4k sectors, regardless of sector size. So I don't think there's anything to reconcile...? Just a note as well, this fix has been accepted upstream. I understand that there's not really a pressing issue here for your RHEL3 customers. Thanks, -Eric
It looks that the patch for this bug is missing in RHEL3 errata (RHBA-2005:058-05) although the errata description text says something obverse. It's mess... It's fixed in devel/FC4 only. Well, definitely RHEL5 and status -> NEXTRELEASE.
An advisory has been issued which should help the problem described in this bug report. This report is therefore being closed with a resolution of ERRATA. For more information on the solution and/or where to find the updated files, please follow the link below. You may reopen this bug report if the solution does not work for you. http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2005-058.html