---
name: "mkfs.bfs"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "util-linux"
version: "2.42.4-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mkfs.bfs"
---

# mkfs.bfs(8)

make an SCO bfs filesystem

## NAME

mkfs.bfs - make an SCO bfs filesystem

## SYNOPSIS

**mkfs.bfs** \[options\] *device* \[*block-count*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**mkfs.bfs** creates an SCO bfs filesystem on a block device (usually a disk partition or a file accessed via the loop device).

The *block-count* parameter is the desired size of the filesystem, in blocks. If nothing is specified, the entire partition will be used.

## OPTIONS

- **-N**, **--inodes** *number*

  Specify the desired *number* of inodes (at most 512). If nothing is specified, some default number in the range 48-512 is picked depending on the size of the partition.

- **-V**, **--vname** *label*

  Specify the volume *label*. I have no idea if/where this is used.

- **-F**, **--fname** *name*

  Specify the filesystem *name*. I have no idea if/where this is used.

- **--lock**\[**=***mode*\]

  Use an exclusive BSD lock for the device or file that is operated upon. The optional argument *mode* can be **yes** (**1**), **no** (**0**), or **nonblock**. If the *mode* argument is omitted, it defaults to **yes**. This option overrides the environment variable **$LOCK\_BLOCK\_DEVICE**. The default is to not use any lock at all, but using a lock is recommended to avoid collisions with [**systemd-udevd**(8)](/systemd-udevd/8.md) or other tools.

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  Explain what is being done.

- **-c**

  This option is silently ignored.

- **-l**

  This option is silently ignored.

- **-h**, **--help**

  Display help text and exit.

- **-V**, **--version**

  Display version and exit. Option **-V** only works as **--version** when it is the only option.

## EXIT STATUS

The exit status returned by **mkfs.bfs** is 0 when all went well, and 1 when something went wrong.

## SEE ALSO

[**mkfs**(8)](/mkfs/8.md)

## REPORTING BUGS

For bug reports, use the *issue tracker* \<https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/issues\>.

## AVAILABILITY

The **mkfs.bfs** command is part of the util-linux package which can be downloaded from *Linux Kernel Archive* \<https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/util-linux/\>.