mkdosfs
Format a DOS (FAT-12/16/32) filesystem (QNX OS)
Syntax:
mkdosfs [-lMp] [-C|c size] [-e number]
[-F type] [-f number] [-h number]
[-I vol_id] [-L vol_label] [-m media]
[-O oem_label] [-R|r] [-S size] [-s size]
device | mountpoint | file
Runs on:
QNX OS
Options:
- -C size
- The minimum default cluster size. Don't specify both -C and -c.
- -c size
- The cluster size for the filesystem; the default is determined by disk geometry. Don't specify both -c and -C.
- -e number
- The number of root directory entries (FAT12/16 only); the default is 512.
- -F type
- The FAT type (12, 16, or 32).
- -f number
- The number of FAT tables to write; the default is 2.
- -h number
- The number of
hidden sectors
; the default is determined by disk geometry. - -I vol_id
- The volume ID/serial number; the default is based on the current time.
- -L vol_label
- Specify a volume label; the default is none.
- -l
- Make a LOST.DIR directory (for use by chkdosfs when repairing a filesystem).
- -M
- Don't mirror FAT (FAT32 only).
- -m media
- Media descriptor byte; the default is
0xF0or, if there are hidden sectors,0xF8. - -O oem_label
- Set the OEM label; the default is:
- MSDOS5.0
- For a FAT12/FAT16 filesystem.
- MSWIN4.1
- For a FAT32 filesystem.
- -p
- Update the partition descriptor on unmounted device targets.
- -R
- Preserve the size and content of existing reserved sectors (reformat).
- -r
- The number of
reserved sectors
; the default is determined by FAT type. - -S size
- Sector size for the filesystem; the default is determined by disk geometry.
- -s size
- Set the size (number of sectors) in the filesystem; the default is determined by disk geometry.
- device
- The device name to host the DOS filesystem (e.g., /dev/hd0t11).
- mountpoint
- The mountpoint of the DOS filesystem (e.g., /fs/hd0-dos).
- file
- A regular file to contain the DOS filesystem image.
Description:
The mkdosfs utility formats a DOS filesystem on the specified target (typically a disk device or partition).
If you don't specify essential user options such as FAT type and cluster size, mkdosfs formats the DOS filesystem using the most suitable options for the size and disk geometry of the host. You can override this default auto-configuration and force a particular format to be used by setting the options you need.
For details on filesystems that QNX OS supports, including their drivers and tool set, see the Filesystems chapter of the System Architecture guide.
Examples:
mkdosfs /dev/hd0t6
Format complete: FAT16 (4096-byte clusters), 201888 kB available.
Exit status:
0- The filesystem was constructed without error.
1- The filesystem wasn't constructed. This may be due to an error or inconsistency with the user options or because of a nonrecoverable error, such as disk I/O or insufficient memory.
Contributing author:
Robert Nordier
License:
This utility is based on software from Robert Nordier;
for licensing information, see
Licensing information
in Typographical Conventions, Support, and Licensing.
Caveats:
The mkdosfs utility destroys or overwrites any existing filesystem on the target.