retasting devices on demand

[Eric Anderson]

On 08/22/06 16:18, Poul-Henning Kamp wrote:
> In message <44EB703A.6000704 at centtech.com>, Eric Anderson writes:
>> On 08/22/06 15:49, Poul-Henning Kamp wrote:
>>> In message <44EB6D1F.90104 at centtech.com>, Eric Anderson writes:
>>>
>>>> Even so, a retaste function that worked on existing disks (like I had) 
>>>> would be useful and an obvious command for admin-types.  Would you be 
>>>> opposed to such a command?
>>> As I said: the problem is that if part of the disk is open it will
>>> not work.
>>>
>>
>> Ok, I'll restate more clearly:
>>
>> Admins really will want a way to retaste a device - if it's used, give 
>> the usual 'operation not permitted', and if it isn't, then just retaste.
> 
> 
> 	#!/bin/sh
> 
> 	if test -c $1 ; then
> 		true > $1
> 	else
> 		echo "Usage: $0 <disk-device>" 1>&2
> 	fi
> 
> happy ?

No.  I know how to write a shell script, and I know now that the 'true' 
trick works like a charm.  Unfortunately, there are lots and lots of 
admins that maintain FreeBSD boxes out there, and they look at 'man 
geom' or 'man glabel' etc, and don't see a way to re-taste the GEOMs. 
There's no mention of the 'true' trick, so they'll have to find it 
somehow on their own.  I agree it's simple, and easy, but not obvious 
and intuitive.

Are you saying that if a patch existed to implement a re-taste command 
for the current g* tools, that you would oppose it, or are you just 
saying it's not important to you personally, so you won't bother to 
write it?  If it's the former, I'll shrug my shoulders and move on - but 
if it's the latter then maybe I'll take a shot at it in 'my spare time'.

Eric




-- 
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Eric Anderson        Sr. Systems Administrator        Centaur Technology
Anything that works is better than anything that doesn't.
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