Re: [bug-fdisk] [FDISK]Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary

[Christian]

> Dear Sir:
> 
> I'm sorry to trouble you!
> I'm in a trouble with fdisk and hope you can help me.

hi! 
        don't worry, bug reports are always welcome! :)

> Description of problem:
> 
> On the same machine,
> RHEL6.0Alpha3 system is installed on /dev/sda.
> RHEL5.5Beta system is installed on /dev/sdb.
> 
> Next The three partitions are distributed when I installed the RHEL6.0Alpha3 
> system.
> On RHEL5.5Beta system(Installed on /dev/sdb), When I type next:
> 
> address@hidden ~]# fdisk -V
> fdisk (util-linux 2.13-pre7)

The first problem that I see is that you're using the util-linux fdisk,
but this mailing list is for the package GNU fdisk (You can get more
information about GNU fdisk here: http://www.gnu.org/software/fdisk/ ).

> address@hidden ~]# fdisk -l
> 
> Disk /dev/sda: 73.4 GB, 73407868928 bytes
> 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 8924 cylinders
> Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
> 
>    Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
> /dev/sda1   *           1          64      512000   83  Linux
> Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
> /dev/sda2              64        2614    20480000   83  Linux
> /dev/sda3            2614        2875     2097152   82  Linux swap / Solaris
> ...


> Now I know the reason of "Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary." is 
> because of the end of sda1 is overlapping with the start of next partition 
> (sda2).

I do not think the problem is an overlap. I think the problem is due 
to alignment of the partition, just as said in the message. 

Some systems and tools assume that the partitions start and end on a
cylinder boundary. This does not happen for linux, but systems like DOS,
may have errors.

> But from the above display, the end of sda2 is also overlapping with the 
> start of next 
> partition (sda3), why it is not give the warning message?
> 
> Use fdisk with next option:
> address@hidden ~]# fdisk -lu
> 
> Disk /dev/sda: 73.4 GB, 73407868928 bytes
> 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 8924 cylinders, total 143374744 sectors
> Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> 
>    Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
> /dev/sda1   *          63     1024062      512000   83  Linux
> Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
> /dev/sda2         1024063    41984062    20480000   83  Linux
> /dev/sda3        41984063    46178366     2097152   82  Linux swap / Solaris
> 
> ----------------------------------------
> address@hidden ~]# fdisk /dev/sda
> ...
> 
> Command (m for help): x
> Expert command (m for help): p
> Disk /dev/sda: 255 heads, 63 sectors, 8924 cylinders
> 
> Nr AF  Hd Sec  Cyl  Hd Sec  Cyl     Start      Size ID
>  1 80   1   1    0 189  61   63         63    1024000 83
> Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
>  2 00 189  62   63 254  63 1023    1024063   40960000 83
>  3 00 254  63 1023 254  63 1023   41984063    4194304 82
>  4 00   0   0    0   0   0    0          0          0 00
> 
> >From the fdsik expert command display, I know the sda1 with end Head 189(and 
> >end Sector 61),
> so the fdisk give the WARNING message. 
> The sda2 with end Head 254 and end Sector 63, and with no WARNING message, 
> but the 
> end Cylinder of sda2 was overlapping with the start Cylinder of sda3.
> Generally speeaking, if the Cylinder is overlapping, Partition 2 should also 
> not end 
> on cylinder boundary and should give the WARNING message. 
> But here is not. It is confused me.
> 
> Would you lend me a hand?
> I'm looking forward to your reply.
> Thanks all!

I think that the partitions 2 and 3 are aligned correctly, and
util-linux fdisk will not print warning messages.

But as I said before this is not the correct mailing list. I do not know
the code of util-linux fdisk and do not know how to explain this
behavior.

My advice is to write the correct list where someone will definitely
give more information.

good luck! :)

        Christian.