---
name: "mkfs.lustre"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "lustre-utils"
version: "1.8.3-4"
release: "Debian 6.0 (Squeeze)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mkfs.lustre"
---

# mkfs.lustre(8)

format a disk for a Lustre service

## NAME

mkfs.lustre - format a disk for a Lustre service

## SYNOPSIS

**mkfs.lustre**{**--ost**\|**--mdt**\|**--mgs**} *\[options\]* *device*\
 **\<target\_type\>** is one of

- **--ost**

  object storage target

- **--mdt**

  metadata storage target

- **--mgs**

  configuration management service - one per site.  This service can be combined with one  **--mdt** service by specifying both types

## DESCRIPTION

**mkfs.lustre** is used to format a disk device for use as part of a Lustre filesystem. After formatting, a disk can be mounted to start the Lustre service defined by this command.

## OPTIONS

- **--backfstype=***fstype*

  Force a particular format for the backing fs (ext3, ldiskfs)

- **--comment=***comment*

  Set user comment about this disk, ignored by Lustre.

- **--device-size=***KB*

  Set device size for loop devices

- **--dryrun**

  Only print what would be done; does not affect the disk

- **--failnode=***nid,...*

  Set the NID(s) of a failover partner. This option can be repeated as desired.

- **--fsname=***filesystem\_name*

  The Lustre filesystem this service will be part of.  The maximum filesystem\_name length is 8 characters. Default is 'lustre'

- **--index=***index*

  Force a particular OST or MDT index

- **--mkfsoptions=***opts*

  Format options for the backing fs. For example, ext3 options could be set here.

- **--mountfsoptions=***opts*

  Set the mount options that will be used when mounting the backing fs. WARNING: unlike earlier versions of **mkfs.lustre**, this version completely replaces the default mount options with those specified on the command line, issuing a warning on stderr if any of the default mount options are omitted. The defaults for *ldiskfs* are OST: *errors=remount-ro,mballoc,extents*; MGS/MDT: *errors=remount-ro,iopen\_nopriv,user\_xattr*. **DO NOT** alter the default mount options unless you know what you are doing.

- **--mgsnode=***nid,...*

  Set the NID(s) of the MGS node, required for all targets other than the MGS.

- **--param** *key=value*

  Set permanent parameter  *key* to value  *value*. This option can be repeated as desired.  Typical options might include:

  - *--param sys.timeout=40*

    System obd timeout

  - *--param lov.stripesize=2M*

    Default stripe size

  - *--param lov.stripecount=2*

    Default stripe count

  - *--param failover.mode=failout*

    Return errors instead of waiting for recovery

- **--quiet**

  Print less information.

- **--reformat**

  Reformat an existing Lustre disk

- **--stripe-count-hint=***stripes*

  Used for optizing MDT inode size

- **--verbose**

  Print more information.

## EXAMPLES

- **mkfs.lustre --fsname=testfs --mdt --mgs /dev/sda1**

  Combined MGS and MDT for filesystem 'testfs' on node e.g. cfs21

- **mkfs.lustre --fsname=testfs --ost --mgsnode=cfs21@tcp0 /dev/sdb**

  OST for filesystem 'testfs' on any node using the above MGS.

- **mkfs.lustre --mgs /dev/sda1**

  Standalone MGS on e.g. node cfs22

- **mkfs.lustre --fsname=myfs1 --mdt --mgsnode=cfs22@tcp0 /dev/sda2**

  MDT for filesystem 'myfs1' on any node, using the above MGS

## BUGS

Please report all bugs to Sun Microsystems via http://bugzilla.lustre.org/

## AVAILABILITY

**mkfs.lustre** is part of the  **Lustre**(7) filesystem package and is available from Sun Microsystems via\
 http://downloads.lustre.org/

## SEE ALSO

[**lustre**(7)](/lustre/7.md), [**mount.lustre**(8)](/mount.lustre/8.md), [**tunefs.lustre**(8)](/tunefs.lustre/8.md), **lctl**(8), **lfs**(1)