fdisk interactive 'v' usage does not always work

fdisk interactive 'v' usage does not always work

[Robert Bowers]

Hello.

Using fdisk from util-linux 2.25 is doing what is best shown in an example.

# truncate -s 16M bin
# losetup -f bin
(use this to find where it looped)
# losetup -a
/dev/loop0: [65024]:292804 (/root/bin)
# fdisk /dev/loop0

Welcome to fdisk (util-linux 2.25).
Changes will remain in memory only, until you decide to write them.
Be careful before using the write command.

Device does not contain a recognized partition table.
Created a new DOS disklabel with disk identifier 0x7235e130.

Command (m for help): v
Remaining 32767 unallocated 512-byte sectors.

Command (m for help): n

(now just accept all the defaults)

Partition type
p primary (0 primary, 0 extended, 4 free)
e extended (container for logical partitions)
Select (default p):

Using default response p.
Partition number (1-4, default 1):
First sector (2048-32767, default 2048):
Last sector, +sectors or +size{K,M,G,T,P} (2048-32767, default 32767):

Created a new partition 1 of type 'Linux' and of size 15 MiB.

Command (m for help): v

Command (m for help):

---

It used to print
Remaining 2047 unallocated 512-byte sectors.
for a layout like this but now prints nothing.

Re: fdisk interactive 'v' usage does not always work

[Karel Zak]

On Wed, Aug 20, 2014 at 03:12:02PM -0400, Robert Bowers wrote:
> It used to print
> Remaining 2047 unallocated 512-byte sectors.
> for a layout like this but now prints nothing.

And it it problem?

This is expected behavior, the sectors before the first partition are no more
reported as unused. The space is usually ignored to keep the first partition
aligned, to have a space for boot loaders, etc. (But you can still move the 
partition in expert menu.)

The original behavior was also inconsistent with "First sector" dialog
where the first sector is usually 2048. It's strange when the "verify"
function reports (expected and wanted) gaps in the default layout.

See commit 11712b6667225ef6fa6b64c1fe48ed5b501ad72e.

    Karel

-- 
 Karel Zak  <kzak@redhat.com>
 http://karelzak.blogspot.com