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efsinit

Erase Flash partitions or format an embedded filesystem (QNX)

Syntax:

efsinit [-d] [-l] [-s num] path

Options:

-d

Format as a DOS-compatible filesystem, that is, with 8.3 filenames.

-l

Format as a POSIX-compatible filesystem.

-s num

The number of spare blocks (the default is 1).

Description:

The efsinit utility has two functions:

• to erase the entire Flash device
• to construct an empty embedded filesystem

The utility decides which function to perform based on the path you specify. The path must have been created by one of the Efsys drivers.

• If you specify a raw device, the utility simply erases blocks, but doesn't write any filesystem information.
• If you specify an embedded filesystem mountpoint, the utility erases all blocks within the partition, and then writes an empty filesystem to the partition.
• If you try to erase memory devices that have no erase capability (e.g. ROM), nothing happens.

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If you've already formatted an embedded filesystem partition on the Flash device, be careful about erasing the entire Flash, since you'll lose the block-usage information stored in the partition. You may need this information if you're using Flash devices that have a low maximum erase-cycle count.

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Currently all read/write filesystems require a spare block independent of the memory devices used to implement the Flash.

Examples:

Erase all data on a raw Flash device:

    efsinit /dev/skt1

Erase and format an empty embedded filesystem with one spare block:

    efsinit /efs1p1

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