use parted with

parted /dev/sdX

Most disks on x86/amd64 are prepared using an msdos label, thus supporting partitions up to 2T in size. To create larger partitions (2 TB and more), one must use a gpt label (the GUID Partition Type). With parted, this can be accomplished with mklabel gpt:

(parted) help
(parted) print
(parted) mklabel gpt
(parted) mkpart primary ext4 0% 100%
(parted) print
(parted) quit

Prepare partition with

mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdX

Mount and enjoy.