## Using `parted`

Here's a transcript from formatting a WD20EARS drive on an x86\_64, RHEL5.5, stock box. **Setting the unit format to sectors is bloody important!**

    [root@example ~]# parted /dev/sdb
    GNU Parted 1.8.1
    Using /dev/sdb
    Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
    (parted) print

    Model: ATA WDC WD20EARS-00M (scsi)
    Disk /dev/sdb: 2000GB
    Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
    Partition Table: msdos

    Number  Start  End  Size  Type  File system  Flags

    (parted) unit s
    (parted) mkpart
    Partition type?  primary/extended? primary
    File system type?  [ext2]?
    Start? 64
    End? -1
    (parted) print

    Model: ATA WDC WD20EARS-00M (scsi)
    Disk /dev/sdb: 2000GB
    Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
    Partition Table: msdos

    Number  Start  End          Size         Type     File system  Flags
    1      64s    3907029167s  3907029104s  primary

    (parted) quit
    Information: Don't forget to update /etc/fstab, if necessary.

## Using `fdisk`

I haven't tried this but here's the command with flags that will align the partition to 4K boundaries:

    fdisk -H 224 -S 56 /dev/sdb