fdisk fails to recognize OpenBSD partition (type A6)

[Jani Uusitalo]

Binary package hint: util-linux

fdisk claims to support editing *BSD disklabels, yet fails to recognize an OpenBSD partition created by fdisk itself:

<code>
jani@saegusa:~$ LC_ALL=C sudo fdisk /dev/sdc

WARNING: DOS-compatible mode is deprecated. It's strongly recommended to
         switch off the mode (command 'c') and change display units to
         sectors (command 'u').

Command (m for help): p

Disk /dev/sdc: 1053 MB, 1053032448 bytes
1 heads, 6 sectors/track, 342784 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 6 * 512 = 3072 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x001411b2

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 342 342784 1027328 a6 OpenBSD

Command (m for help): b
There is no *BSD partition on /dev/sdc.
</code>

"*BSD" implies OpenBSD, yet apparently it is unsupported.

If I change the partition type to A5 (FreeBSD), fdisk does allow me to create a disklabel:

<code>
Command (m for help): t
Selected partition 1
Hex code (type L to list codes): a5
Changed system type of partition 1 to a5 (FreeBSD)

Command (m for help): p

Disk /dev/sdc: 1053 MB, 1053032448 bytes
1 heads, 6 sectors/track, 342784 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 6 * 512 = 3072 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x001411b2

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 342 342784 1027328 a5 FreeBSD

Command (m for help): b
Reading disklabel of /dev/sdc1 at sector 2049.
/dev/sdc1 contains no disklabel.
Do you want to create a disklabel? (y/n)
</code>

At the very least, "*BSD" should be changed to indicate which types of BSD partitions are actually supported (FreeBSD, maybe others?).

Better yet, have fdisk actually support editing OpenBSD disklabels as well.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: util-linux 2.17.2-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-24.38-generic 2.6.32.15+drm33.5
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-24-generic x86_64
Architecture: amd64
CheckboxSubmission: 09ae689090491ca53449589269e4bfd8
CheckboxSystem: edda5d4f616ca792bf437989cb597002
Date: Mon Jul 12 18:10:07 2010
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release amd64 (20091027)
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=fi_FI.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: util-linux