The following parameter types are used.
.TP
.I str
-String: a sequence of alphanumeric characters.
+String. A sequence of alphanumeric characters.
+.TP
+.I time
+Integer with possible time suffix. Without a unit value is interpreted as
+seconds unless otherwise specified. Accepts a suffix of 'd' for days, 'h' for
+hours, 'm' for minutes, 's' for seconds, 'ms' (or 'msec') for milliseconds and 'us'
+(or 'usec') for microseconds. For example, use 10m for 10 minutes.
.TP
.I int
Integer. A whole number value, which may contain an integer prefix
and an integer suffix.
-[integer prefix]number[integer suffix]
+[*integer prefix*] **number** [*integer suffix*]
+
+The optional *integer prefix* specifies the number's base. The default
+is decimal. *0x* specifies hexadecimal.
-The optional integer prefix specifies the number's base. The default
-is decimal. 0x specifies hexadecimal.
+The optional *integer suffix* specifies the number's units, and includes an
+optional unit prefix and an optional unit. For quantities of data, the
+default unit is bytes. For quantities of time, the default unit is seconds
+unless otherwise specified.
-The optional integer suffix specifies the number's units, and includes
-an optional unit prefix and an optional unit. For quantities
-of data, the default unit is bytes. For quantities of time,
-the default unit is seconds.
+With \fBkb_base=1000\fR, fio follows international standards for unit
+prefixes. To specify power-of-10 decimal values defined in the
+International System of Units (SI):
-With \fBkb_base=1000\fR, fio follows international standards for unit prefixes.
-To specify power-of-10 decimal values defined in the International
-System of Units (SI):
.nf
ki means kilo (K) or 1000
mi means mega (M) or 1000**2
.fi
To specify power-of-2 binary values defined in IEC 80000-13:
+
.nf
k means kibi (Ki) or 1024
m means mebi (Mi) or 1024**2
p means pebi (Pi) or 1024**5
.fi
-With \fBkb_base=1024\fR (the default), the unit prefixes are opposite from
-those specified in the SI and IEC 80000-13 standards to provide
-compatibility with old scripts. For example, 4k means 4096.
+With \fBkb_base=1024\fR (the default), the unit prefixes are opposite
+from those specified in the SI and IEC 80000-13 standards to provide
+compatibility with old scripts. For example, 4k means 4096.
+
+For quantities of data, an optional unit of 'B' may be included
+(e.g., 'kB' is the same as 'k').
+
+The *integer suffix* is not case sensitive (e.g., m/mi mean mebi/mega,
+not milli). 'b' and 'B' both mean byte, not bit.
-.nf
Examples with \fBkb_base=1000\fR:
+
+.nf
4 KiB: 4096, 4096b, 4096B, 4k, 4kb, 4kB, 4K, 4KB
1 MiB: 1048576, 1m, 1024k
1 MB: 1000000, 1mi, 1000ki
1 TB: 1000000000, 1ti, 1000mi, 1000000ki
.fi
-.nf
Examples with \fBkb_base=1024\fR (default):
+
+.nf
4 KiB: 4096, 4096b, 4096B, 4k, 4kb, 4kB, 4K, 4KB
1 MiB: 1048576, 1m, 1024k
1 MB: 1000000, 1mi, 1000ki
1 TB: 1000000000, 1ti, 1000mi, 1000000ki
.fi
-For quantities of data, an optional unit of 'B' may be included
-(e.g., 'kb' is the same as 'k').
-
-The integer suffix is not case sensitive (e.g., m/mi mean mebi/mega,
-not milli). 'b' and 'B' both mean byte, not bit.
-
To specify times (units are not case sensitive):
+
.nf
D means days
H means hours
us or usec means microseconds
.fi
+If the option accepts an upper and lower range, use a colon ':' or
+minus '-' to separate such values. See `irange` parameter type.
+If the lower value specified happens to be larger than the upper value
+the two values are swapped.
.TP
.I bool
-Boolean: a true or false value. `0' denotes false, `1' denotes true.
+Boolean. Usually parsed as an integer, however only defined for
+true and false (1 and 0).
.TP
.I irange
-Integer range: a range of integers specified in the format
-\fIlower\fR:\fIupper\fR or \fIlower\fR\-\fIupper\fR. \fIlower\fR and
-\fIupper\fR may contain a suffix as described above. If an option allows two
-sets of ranges, they are separated with a `,' or `/' character. For example:
-`8\-8k/8M\-4G'.
+Integer range with suffix. Allows value range to be given, such as
+1024-4096. A colon may also be used as the separator, e.g. 1k:4k. If the
+option allows two sets of ranges, they can be specified with a ',' or '/'
+delimiter: 1k-4k/8k-32k. Also see `int` parameter type.
.TP
.I float_list
-List of floating numbers: A list of floating numbers, separated by
-a ':' character.
+A list of floating point numbers, separated by a ':' character.
.SH "JOB DESCRIPTION"
With the above in mind, here follows the complete list of fio job parameters.
.TP