MKFS.BFS(8) System Administration MKFS.BFS(8)

# [NAME](#NAME)

mkfs.bfs - make an SCO bfs filesystem

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

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

# [DESCRIPTION](#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](#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)](/man/os/util-linux/systemd-udevd.8) 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](#EXIT_STATUS)

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

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[**mkfs**(8)](/man/os/util-linux/mkfs.8)

# [REPORTING BUGS](#REPORTING_BUGS)

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

# [AVAILABILITY](#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/>.

2026-10-19 util-linux 2.42.4

---

Document: mkfs.bfs(8) from util-linux 2.42.4-r1 (Chainguard OS)