vdo_format(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

💖 vdo_format 💖

okay so real talk — this is a page out of the Kernel API Manual, and it's all about vdo_format, bestie. buckle up 🎀

✨ NAME ✨

vdo_format — the function that formats a block device so it can function as a brand-new VDO. yes, it's giving "first day of school" vibes for your device 🌸

🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

int vdo_format (struct vdo *vdo , char **error_ptr );

like, that's the whole signature, no cap 💅

🎀 ARGUMENTS 🎀

  • vdo — the vdo you're formatting. your main character, literally 👑
  • error_ptr — where the reason for any failure during this call gets handed back to you. so when it goes wrong (and sometimes it does 😭), this is where the tea gets spilled.

🌈 DESCRIPTION 🌈

okay so here's the deal. this function must be called on a device before a VDO can be loaded for the very first time. think of it as the "unboxing" step — nothing works until you do it 🫶

once a device has been formatted, the VDO can be loaded and shut down repeatedly. like, over and over, no drama, it just works ✨

and if you want a new VDO? then this function should be called again. fresh start, new era, periodt 💫

⭐ RETURN ⭐

VDO_SUCCESS or an error. that's it, that's the whole vibe check 🔥

💜 SEE ALSO 💜

this list is long bestie, grab a snack 🍓 — first up, the Kernel file itself:

  • ./drivers/md/dm-vdo/vdo.c

and then the whole friend group, fr fr:

ngl, that's a lot of cross-references — but that's how you know it's well-connected 💀💖

and that's the whole page, bestie!! this one came straight out of ./drivers/md/dm-vdo, dated October 2026 — go forth and format responsibly, ily 🧚💜

📦 where this page comes from