Subject: fdisk and extended partitions
To: None <netbsd-help@netbsd.org>
From: Jeremy C. Reed <reed@reedmedia.net>
List: netbsd-help
Date: 09/05/2002 19:17:42
Using fdisk under 1.6_RC3/i386, the output for extended partitions indents
and makes it hard to read (since it wraps around screen). See after
signature to see example.

The main problem is fdisk -u with extended.

When it got to my extended partition, all of the information for
around six extended partitions scrolled by. I was unable to review it.

Then when I chose to edit, the questions seemed to behave like it was only
one partition.

(The extended partitions were made under Debian Linux. I don't know if
they were created correctly.)

What is the correct tool for easily reviewing, modifying or creating
extended DOS partitions?

On this disk with an old BIOS with 1024 cylinder limitation, I plan to
have three bootable different operating systems (all sharing /home and
swap). To take advantage of entire disk I (believe I) need to use extended
partitions. Any hints?

Thanks,

   Jeremy C. Reed
   http://bsd.reedmedia.net/

Disk: /dev/rwd0d
NetBSD disklabel disk geometry:
cylinders: 13446 heads: 15 sectors/track: 63 (945 sectors/cylinder)

BIOS disk geometry:
cylinders: 789 heads: 255 sectors/track: 63 (16065 sectors/cylinder)

Partition table:
0: sysid 169 (NetBSD)
    start 63, size 292887 (143 MB), flag 0x0
        beg: cylinder    0, head   1, sector  1
        end: cylinder   18, head  59, sector 63
1: sysid 131 (Linux native)
    start 292950, size 292950 (143 MB), flag 0x0
        beg: cylinder   18, head  60, sector  1
        end: cylinder   36, head 119, sector 63
2: sysid 131 (Linux native)
    start 585900, size 292950 (143 MB), flag 0x80
        beg: cylinder   36, head 120, sector  1
        end: cylinder   54, head 179, sector 63
3: sysid 5 (Extended partition)
    start 878850, size 11827620 (5775 MB), flag 0x0
        beg: cylinder   54, head 180, sector  1
        end: cylinder  788, head 254, sector 63
    Extended partition table:
        0: sysid 131 (Linux native)
            start 878913, size 977067 (477 MB), flag 0x0
                beg: cylinder  465, head   1, sector  1
                end: cylinder  981, head  29, sector 63
        1: sysid 5 (Extended partition)
            start 1855980, size 249480 (121 MB), flag 0x0
                beg: cylinder  982, head   0, sector  1
                end: cylinder 1023, head  29, sector 63
            Extended partition table:
                0: sysid 130 (Linux swap or Prime or Solaris)
                    start 1856043, size 249417 (121 MB), flag 0x0
                        beg: cylinder  982, head   1, sector  1
                        end: cylinder 1023, head  29, sector 63
                1: sysid 5 (Extended partition)
                    start 2105460, size 5859000 (2860 MB), flag 0x0
                        beg: cylinder 1023, head  29, sector 63
                        end: cylinder 1023, head  29, sector 63
                    Extended partition table:
                        0: sysid 169 (NetBSD)
                            start 2105523, size 5858937 (2860 MB), flag 0x0
                                beg: cylinder 1023, head  29, sector 63
                                end: cylinder 1023, head  29, sector 63
                        1: sysid 5 (Extended partition)
                            start 7964460, size 3710070 (1811 MB), flag 0x0
                                beg: cylinder 1023, head  29, sector 63
                                end: cylinder 1023, head  29, sector 63
                            Extended partition table:
                                0: sysid 131 (Linux native)
                                    start 7964523, size 3710007 (1811 MB), flag 0x0
                                        beg: cylinder 1023, head  29, sector 63
                                        end: cylinder 1023, head  29, sector 63
                                1: sysid 5 (Extended partition)
                                    start 11674530, size 1031940 (503 MB), flag 0x0
                                        beg: cylinder 1023, head  29, sector 63
                                        end: cylinder 1023, head  29, sector 63
                                    Extended partition table:
                                        0: sysid 131 (Linux native)
                                            start 11674593, size 1031877 (503 MB), flag 0x0
                                                beg: cylinder 1023, head  29, sector 63
                                                end: cylinder 1023, head  29, sector 63
                                        1: <UNUSED>
                                        2: <UNUSED>
                                        3: <UNUSED>
                                2: <UNUSED>
                                3: <UNUSED>
                        2: <UNUSED>
                        3: <UNUSED>
                2: <UNUSED>
                3: <UNUSED>
        2: <UNUSED>
        3: <UNUSED>