The real answer is "it doesn't matter". The allocation bitmap is only read for disks defined as CP OWNED on the z/VM system. Your minidisks for Linux should not be CP owned, so the allocation map is not read. That being said, when you use CPFMTXA, the default allocation is PERM space, so there is nothing to change, just enter "END" for the prompt for the allocation.
Mark Post's advice is correct - you really only need to format cyl 0 to write the label and the rest of the normal cylinder 0 stuff, as far as z/VM is concerned. There have been discussions here about formatting the entire disk first or not. It certainly doesn't hurt to format the entire disk, it just takes more time. On Wed, Nov 19, 2014 at 4:24 PM, Chu, Raymond <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi, > > Need to format mindisks for zLinux image. Understand that cpfmtxa command > has several parameters. They are DRCT, PAGE, SPOL, PERM and PARM. > > Further understanding that > PARM is for CMS- formatted minidisk that contains the System Configuration > files > PERM is for CP user minidisks, minidisks, checkpoint, warm start and other > static space. > > Should I use PARM or PERM for zLinux minidisk? Please advise. > > Thanks, > Ray > > -- Bruce Hayden z/VM and Linux on System z ATS IBM, Endicott, NY ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information on Linux on System z, visit http://wiki.linuxvm.org/
