MMCFORMAT(8)

💖 MMCFORMAT(8) 💖

okay bestie, so this is mmc_format from the System Manager's Manual — it lives in section 8, she's a system manager tool, and she formats optical media. yes. discs. the shiny ones. let's get into it 🫶

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✨ NAME ✨

mmc_format — format optical media 💿

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🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

mmc_format [-BDFGHhIMOpRrSsw] [-b blockingnr] [-c cert-num] special

that's the whole vibe. one special argument (that's the device, she's special, that's literally the name) and a whole alphabet of flags. slay.

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🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

The mmc_format utility formats optical media conforming to the MMC standard. And when we say optical media we mean CD, DVD, and Blu-Ray (BD) media — the whole squad. 💅

The options are as follows:

• -B — Blank media when possible before formatting it. wipe first, ask questions later ✨
• -b blockingnr — Explicitly select packet size in sectors (for CD-RW only). ngl, it is not recommended to change this from its default of 32. just... leave it. 🙈
• -c cert-num — Certify media for DVD-RAM / DV-RE. The argument cert-num specifies:
  • 0 — no certification
  • 1 — full certification
  • 2 — quick certification
• -D — Debug mode. Print all SCSI/ATAPI command errors. loud mode. 📢
• -F — Format media.
• -G — Grow last CD-RW/DVD-RW session.
• -H — Show help and print formatting choices for the inserted media.
• -h — Show help and print formatting choices for the inserted media.
• -I — Show help and print formatting choices for the inserted media.
• -M — Select MRW (Mount Rainier) error correcting background format.
• -O — Old style CD-RW formatting; recommended for CD-RW. she's vintage, she's iconic 👑
• -p — Explicitly set packet format.
• -R — Restart previously stopped MCD-MRW or DVD+RW background format.
• -r — Recompile defect list for DVD-RAM.
• -S — Grow spare space DVD-RAM / BD-RE.
• -s — Format DVD+MRW / BD-RE with extra spare space.
• -w — Wait until completion of background format.

fr fr, notice that -H, -h and -I all do the exact same thing? yeah. three flags, one job. no notes, that's just how she is 😭

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🎀 NOTES 🎀

Due to the enormous varieties in optical media, mmc_format is made as generic as possible. This can result in confusion. 💀

that's it. that's the note. she's generic on purpose and yes it's confusing. we said it.

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🌈 EXAMPLES 🌈

mmc_format -B -O /dev/rcd0d

Blanks and then formats a CD-RW disc using the "old style" format command. It is recommended to use this "old style" command unless your drive reports that it's not supported; in that case, resort to the default -F. Note that a CD-RW disc can be reformatted without being blanked. Blanking switches between sequential and fixed packet writing by erasing the disc. This can also help to revive old discs. ✨ she can be resurrected ✨

mmc_format -F -M /dev/rcd0d

Format a CD-RW or a DVD+RW to use MRW (Mount Rainier). This format tries to hide media flaws as much as possible by relocation. she's hiding the flaws, we love a concealment queen 💅

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⭐ SEE ALSO ⭐

scsictl(8)

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💜 HISTORY 💜

The mmc_format command first appeared in NetBSD 5.0. a legend from day one, periodt.

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🫶 AUTHORS 🫶

Reinoud Zandijk <reinoud@NetBSD.org> — thank you king 👑

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💀 BUGS 💀

mmc_format could be merged with scsictl(8) but that tool is very hard disk oriented. so. here we are. two separate tools, one of them just doesn't get optical media like that. it's giving incompatible vibes 😭

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and that's the whole page bestie!! 💖✨🎀🦋🌸💅🫶

this was the Debian build of the page, dated May 9, 2008 — so like, a vintage, and honestly? she's aging beautifully. mwah 💋 go format something (responsibly!!) 🍓