Assigning a Volume Name to a Solaris disk

We generally use the Solaris format command to manage disks. But we can also use it to assign a Volume Name (volname) to any disk allowing for sysadmins to administer the disks easier.

FORMAT MENU:
disk - select a disk
type - select (define) a disk type
partition - select (define) a partition table
current - describe the current disk
format - format and analyze the disk
repair - repair a defective sector
label - write label to the disk
analyze - surface analysis
defect - defect list management
backup - search for backup labels
verify - read and display labels
save - save new disk/partition definitions
inquiry - show vendor, product and revision
volname - set 8-character volume name
!<cmd> - execute <cmd> then return
quit

volname — menu option to instruct labelling

Note: The volname is a non-destructive command. It will not destroy data on a disk. Even if the disk has partitions that are mounted.

Warning: Do not use the label to write a volume name to the disk. The label command will write a new VTOC to the disk and not the volume name.

To assign a volume name to a specific disk we can perform the following:

• Run format and select the desired disk

  # format
  Searching for disks...done
  AVAILABLE DISK SELECTIONS:
  0. c0t0d0
  /pci@1c,600000/scsi@1/sd@0,0
  1. c0t1d0
  /pci@1c,600000/scsi@1/sd@1,0
  2. c0t2d0
  /pci@1c,600000/scsi@1/sd@2,0
  3. c0t3d0
  /pci@1c,600000/scsi@1/sd@3,0
  Specify disk (enter its number): 1
  

• The Format Menu is shown

  selecting c0t1d0:
  [disk formatted]
  
  FORMAT MENU:
  disk - select a disk
  type - select (define) a disk type
  partition - select (define) a partition table
  current - describe the current disk
  format - format and analyze the disk
  repair - repair a defective sector
  label - write label to the disk
  analyze - surface analysis
  defect - defect list management
  backup - search for backup labels
  verify - read and display labels
  save - save new disk/partition definitions
  inquiry - show vendor, product and revision
  volname - set 8-character volume name
  !<cmd> - execute <cmd>, then return
  quit
  format>

• Enter volname at the format> prompt and enter the volume name you want to assign (remember quotes), and enter y when prompted to label the disk

  format> volname
  Enter 8-character volume name (remember quotes)
  [""]:"OSmirror"
  Ready to label disk, continue? y

• Now select disks again to confirm label

  format> disk
  AVAILABLE DISK SELECTIONS:
  0. c0t0d0
  /pci@1c,600000/scsi@1/sd@0,0
  1. c0t1d0 OSmirror
  /pci@1c,600000/scsi@1/sd@1,0
  2. c0t2d0
  /pci@1c,600000/scsi@1/sd@2,0
  3. c0t3d0
  /pci@1c,600000/scsi@1/sd@3,0
  Specify disk (enter its number): 

  From the above we can see that the disk label is shown against the disk.
• Selecting the disk also shows the volume name (label)

  Specify disk (enter its number): 1
  selecting c0t1d0: OSmirror
  [disk formatted]

  Type quit at the format> prompt to exit the format utility.