[Bug 294357] bsdconfig(8): omit empty (confusing) disk configuration output

From: <bugzilla-noreply_at_freebsd.org>
Date: Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:23:17 UTC
https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=294357

            Bug ID: 294357
           Summary: bsdconfig(8): omit empty (confusing) disk
                    configuration output
           Product: Base System
           Version: 14.4-STABLE
          Hardware: Any
                OS: Any
            Status: New
          Severity: Affects Some People
          Priority: ---
         Component: bin
          Assignee: bugs@FreeBSD.org
          Reporter: michaelo@FreeBSD.org

Installed a new machine via SOL recently and the installer gave me this
listing:

┌───────────────────────────ZFS Configuration─────────────────────────────┐
│ gpart(8) show da3:                                                      │
│                                                                         │
│                                                                         │
│ camcontrol(8) inquiry da3:                                              │
│ pass3: <SEAGATE ST9300605SS 5101> Fixed Direct Access SPC-3 SCSI device │
│ pass3: Serial Number 6XP3F4YH0000B249ARFA                               │
│ pass3: 150.000MB/s transfers, Command Queueing Enabled                  │
│                                                                         │
│                                                                         │
│ camcontrol(8) identify da3:                                             │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                               <  OK  >                                  │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

This output left me with two problems:
* Why is gpart(8) output not there (omitted)? No partition table is present
which is printed to stderr, but redirected to /dev/null.
* Tried to scroll down to see the identify output. After the installation I
figured that 'identify' is for ATA only and I have SAS drive.

The improvement which can be achieved here is to omit the command itself if
there is no output to avoid confusion. E.g., write to a temp file, check size
non-zero and then echo otherwise omit.
Ideal output:
┌───────────────────────────ZFS Configuration─────────────────────────────┐
│ camcontrol(8) inquiry da3:                                              │
│ pass3: <SEAGATE ST9300605SS 5101> Fixed Direct Access SPC-3 SCSI device │
│ pass3: Serial Number 6XP3F4YH0000B249ARFA                               │
│ pass3: 150.000MB/s transfers, Command Queueing Enabled                  │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                               <  OK  >                                  │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

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