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.

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.

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