About formatting LDEVs

The LDEV formatting function, which includes Normal Format and Quick Format, enables you to format volumes (LDEVs). Volumes must be in the blocked status to be formatted.

The following table lists the formatting functions and specifies the LDEV types on which each formatting function can be performed.

Formatting function

Corresponding volume

Normal Format1

Internal volume

Virtual volume

External volume

Quick Format 2

Internal volume, except for a volume in a parity group with accelerated compression enabled

Notes:

  1. If Normal LDEV formatting is performed on the same storage system by multiple applications, the operation requested first is performed, and the operations requested later fail. For example, if Normal LDEV formatting is being performed by a maintenance PC and a Normal LDEV format is requested by the SVP, the LDEV format requested by the SVP fails.
  2. Quick LDEV formatting operations to multiple parity groups can be requested by multiple applications. For example, if Quick LDEV formatting is being performed by a maintenance PC and another Quick LDEV format operation is requested by the SVP, all quick format operations are processed in parallel.

When an LDEV is added, the storage system performs one of the following actions depending on the setting:

  • The storage system automatically formats the added LDEV. This is the default setting.
  • The storage system blocks the LDEV and does not automatically format it.

To confirm or change the formatting setting on the storage system, contact the administrator. Users who have the Storage Administrator (Provisioning) role can change the formatting setting.

Parent Topic
  • Formatting LDEVs

    If you initialize LDEVs that are being used, you will need to format the LDEVs.