On Tue, Mar 07, 2006 at 12:22:33AM -0500, James K. Lowden wrote:
> The NetBSD kernel does not *use* the MBR partition table, though.  NetBSD
> manages the disk via its disklabel.  Only this and nothing more.  

That is not strictly true....

The (i386 at least) NetBSD kernel will fabricate a NetBSD disklabel from
the mbr partition data (including the extended partition list) if it
cannot find a NetBSD label at the start of any of the 'type 169' mbr
partitions.

It also use the mbr partition table in order to write the NetBSD disklabel
to the start od EVERY type 169 mbr partition.

In addition the boot programs know all about the mbr.

	David

-- 
David Laight: david@l8s.co.uk