Media Tools

Introduction

The system provides a number of simple tools to handle and maintain external media devices (e.g. USB, SD-Cards). External media devices can for instance be used for boot configuration and logging.

These media tools allows for simple partitioning and formatting of connected external media devices. Tools also exist for easy population of relevant files on external media along with synchronization of files between medias.

For other related information see the following pages:

Overview

The media tools provided are quite limited in the uses that they provide. They aim to provide the possibility to perform the most basic type of operations directly on the device. For more extensive or advanced media operations it is recommended to use a PC. However, the provided tools should be able to handle most of the general use-cases that exist.

The following functionality is provided by the system, that acts directly on the connected external media device(s):

Partition: Allows the user to partition and format a connected external media device in one simple step. It is possible to create up to four partitions. Each of these individual partitions will require a file system to be selected for the formatting that is performed at the same time. The limits to the formatting is the same as the stand-alone format option allows.
Format: Allows the user to format a specific external media device with a file system and optional label. Currently one of the following file systems can be selected:
- vfat
- ext2
- ext3
- ext4

The upcoming functions do not operate directly on the connected external media device itself. Instead they take a media definition as the selection variable. The operation can also only be used when the specified media definition is Active, i.e. the media definition matches a physical media device. The available functionality is as follows:

Populate: Used to provide a factory configuration and default external media file structure to the specified media.
Sync: Used to sync configuration files and certificates between two specified medias.

Note

Only one representation of the built-in flash currently exist named internal. All other media definitions that can be used are matched against externally connected media devices.

Configuration

Media configuration tools are accessed from the admin execution context in the following manner:

example:/#> media
example:/media/#>

format [DEV]

Format any connected physical media device (USB/SD-Card).

Simple formatting of connected media device or partition. Allows to select the wanted filesystem and specification of an optional label.

Note

The command will enter a sub-context, see options in this context below.

Warning

Any files present on the selected device will be removed, once the formatting has been initiated. Therefore, make sure to backup any important files beforehand.

Do not worry, the formatting will not begin until the start-formatting command is invoked in the actual format context, that is entered using this command.

Example:

example:/media/#> format sdb1
example:/media/format-sdb1/#> filesystem ext3
example:/media/format-sdb1/#> label default
example:/media/format-sdb1/#> show
Format settings for device sdb1                                               
Filesystem : ext3
Label      : default
example:/media/format-sdb1/#> start-formatting

Warning: Formatting this dev will remove any files currently stored on it!
         Backup any data you want to keep before formatting the dev.

Do you still want to proceed (y/N)?y

Formatting: 100% - [============================================================]

Format successful!
example:/media/#>

DEV: The physical media device to be formatted. This command is tab-completed for the available devices. Further, the available devices can be listed with the show devices command inside the media context.

partition [DEV]

Partition any connected physical media device (USB/SD-Card).

Easy setup of the partitioning of a connected media device. This includes defining each partition with a partition number, a size of the partition, an optional label and a fs to format the device with.

Note

The command will enter a sub-context, see options in this context below.

Warning

Any files present on the selected device will be removed, once the partitioning and formatting has been initiated. Therefore, make sure to backup any important files beforehand.

Do not worry, the formatting will not begin until the start-partitioning command is invoked in the actual partition context, that is entered using this command.

Example:

example:/media/#> partition sdb
Entering partitioning mode with dev sdb as target…

No changes will be performed until the start-partition command is
invoked. When invoked the entire device sdb will be fully re-partitioned
and re-formated, any files on the device will be LOST/REMOVED, keep
this in mind before proceeding.

example:/media/partition-sdb/#> delete all
example:/media/partition-sdb/#> add label default size 50% format ext3
example:/media/partition-sdb/#> add label my-files size 20% format vfat
example:/media/partition-sdb/#> add size 20% format ext2
example:/media/partition-sdb/#> add label example-folder size 10% format ext4
example:/media/partition-sdb/#>
example:/media/partition-sdb/#> show
Partition table for dev: sdb
#  DEV-NAME      PART-NUMB  LABEL                          SIZE      FS       
1  /dev/sdb1     1          default                        50%       ext3
2  /dev/sdb2     2          my-files                       20%       vfat
3  /dev/sdb3     3          -                              20%       ext2
4  /dev/sdb4     4          example-folder                 10%       ext4
example:/media/partition-sdb/#>
example:/media/partition-sdb/#> start-partitioning

Understand that the content on the device will be lost during the
partitioning and formatting of the device. Make sure that the device
does not contain any files that needs to be saved elsewhere.

Start partitioning and formatting of the device (y/N)? y
Attempt to delete existing partitions on device /dev/sdb:
  1: /dev/sdb1 [Partition numb: 1]
  2: /dev/sdb2 [Partition numb: 2]
  3: /dev/sdb3 [Partition numb: 3]
  4: /dev/sdb4 [Partition numb: 4]

Attempt to partition device /dev/sdb in the following manner:
  1: /dev/sdb1 [Partition numb: 1], [Size: 50%]
  2: /dev/sdb2 [Partition numb: 2], [Size: 20%]
  3: /dev/sdb3 [Partition numb: 3], [Size: 20%]
  4: /dev/sdb4 [Partition numb: 4], [Size: 10%]

Initiate formatting of the partitions, this may take a while:
  1: /dev/sdb1 [Partition numb: 1] [Label: default], format with ext3 FS…
Formatting: 100% - [============================================================]

  2: /dev/sdb2 [Partition numb: 2] [Label: my-files], format with vfat FS…
Formatting: 100% \ [============================================================]

  3: /dev/sdb3 [Partition numb: 3] [Label: -], format with ext2 FS…
Formatting: 100% \ [============================================================]

  4: /dev/sdb4 [Partition numb: 4] [Label: example-folder], format with ext4 FS…
Formatting: 100% \ [============================================================]

Device sdb successfully partitioned and formatted!
example:/media/#>

DEV: The physical media device to be formatted. This command is tab-completed for the available devices. Further, the available devices can be listed with the show devices command inside the media context.

populate [MEDIA]

Populates external media with factory config and directories for certificates.

Example:

example:/media/#> populate external

MEDIA

Dynamically created using the media command in the boot configuration context. Use the show command in the current context to list all existing media definitions. All usable media definitions will be listed under Active. In addition, two default media definitions exist if no changes have been made to medias in the boot context:

internal: The representation of the built-in flash. This cannot be changed or removed.
external: The default media definition for any connected external media device (e.g. USB, SD-Card). It is configured to always match the first partition on said external media device. This definition is not static or locked, it can be freely adjusted by the user, even removed.

sync [FROM]<MEDIA> [TO]<MEDIA>

Sync configuration and certificates between media.

Copies configuration and certificates from the FROM, media if any, to the TO media. If no FROM media is specified the currently used media based on the active boot config is chosen.

Example:

example:/media/#> sync internal external
Syncing may remove .cfg and certificate files from destination media.
Are you sure you want to continue (y/N)? y
example:/media/#>

MEDIA

Dynamically created using the media command in the boot configuration context. Use the show command in the current context to list all existing media definitions. All usable media definitions will be listed under Active. In addition, two default media definitions exist if no changes have been made to medias in the boot context:

internal: The representation of the built-in flash. This cannot be changed or removed.
external: The default media definition for any connected external media device (e.g. USB, SD-Card). It is configured to always match the first partition on said external media device. This definition is not static or locked, it can be freely adjusted by the user, even removed.

Format Settings

The format configuration tool is a sub-context of the media context:

example:/media/#> format sdb1
example:/media/format-sdb1/#>

Note

In the format context you create the intended formatting setup for the device. None of the commands will perform any direct changes on the device. Only when the start-formatting command is called will any actual changes be performed on the selected device.

[no] filesystem [FS]

Select desired filesystem to format on the selected device.

no

A file system must be selected, it can only be changed not removed.

FS

The wanted filesystem selectable from the following types:

vfat
ext2
ext3
ext4

[no] label [LABEL]

Set optional label to be used on the formatted device.

no: Remove any configured label. It is fine to have a file system that has no configured label.
LABEL: Free-form string of the wanted label for the file system. The allowed max length of the label may depend on the file system selected. If it is to long for a particular file system the name may be automatically trimmed.

Note

A label is not required, it is valid to not have a label.

start-formatting

Start formatting the device according to current configuration.

Before this command is invoked no changes will be made to the selected device. If the formatting context is exited and this command has not been called, the device will retain its previous formatting configuration.

Warning

When this command is invoked and the formatting of the device commence, all files currently present on the device will be removed. Ensure that any file that should be saved have been so.

Partition Settings

The partition configuration tool is a sub-context of the media context:

example:/media/#> partition sdb
example:/media/partition-sdb/#>

Note

In the partition context you create the intended structure of the wanted partitions. None of the commands will perform any direct changes on the device. Only when the start-partitioning command is called will any actual changes be performed on the selected device.

add [part-numb NUMB] [label LABEL] [size SIZE] [format FS]

Add a new partition definition.

part-numb

The wanted partition number for the partition, specified by NUMB and must be between 1-4.

Note

If not specified the lowest available partition number will be used.

Note

Multiple partition definitions cannot have the same partition number.

label

The wanted label for the filesystem to be formatted on the partition.

LABEL: Free-form string of the wanted label for the file system. The allowed max length of the label may depend on the file system selected. If it is to long for a particular file system the name may be automatically trimmed.

Note

A label is not required, it is valid to not have a label.

size

The wanted size of the partition, specified by SIZE.

SIZE

The size of the partition, specified by a numerical value and a value indicator: K, M, G or %.

Examples: 1000K, 20M, 1G or 50%

format

The wanted filesystem to be formatted on the partition.

The format can be selected from the values specified by FS.

FS

The wanted filesystem selectable from the following types:

vfat
ext2
ext3
ext4

modify INDEX [part-numb NUMB] [label LABEL] [size SIZE] [format FS]

Modify an existing partition definition.

INDEX

The index of the partition definition to modify.

part-numb

The wanted partition number for the partition, specified by NUMB and must be between 1-4.

Note

If not specified the lowest available partition number will be used.

Note

Multiple partition definitions cannot have the same partition number.

label

The wanted label for the filesystem to be formatted on the partition.

LABEL: Free-form string of the wanted label for the file system. The allowed max length of the label may depend on the file system selected. If it is to long for a particular file system the name may be automatically trimmed.

Note

A label is not required, it is valid to not have a label.

size

The wanted size of the partition, specified by SIZE.

SIZE

The size of the partition, specified by a numerical value and a value indicator: K, M, G or %.

Examples: 1000K, 20M, 1G or 50%

format

The wanted filesystem to be formatted on the partition.

The format can be selected from the values specified by FS.

FS

The wanted filesystem selectable from the following types:

vfat
ext2
ext3
ext4

delete [INDEX] [all]

Delete a specifc or all existing partition definitions.

INDEX: The index of the partition definition to delete.
all: If specified all current partition definitions will be removed.

start-partitioning

Start partitioning and formatting the device according to current configuration.

Before this command is invoked no changes will be made to the selected device. If the partitioning context is exited and this command has not been called, the device will retain its previous partitioning configuration and formatting.

Warning

Understand that the content on the device will be lost during the partitioning and formatting of the device. Make sure that the device does not contain any files that needs to be saved elsewhere.

Status Overview

Using the show command in media context will show an overview of our media devices:

example:/#> show media
MEDIA       DEVICE      LABEL          FORMAT   RW     SIZE  USED  DESCRIPTION
Active                                                                        
internal    mtd:Config  -              jffs2    Yes   15.0M    5%  config,cert
external    sdb1        default        ext3     Yes    1.8G    0%  logging
Inactive                                                                      
my-logs     -           -              -        -         -     -
Available                                                                     
-           sdb2        my-files       vfat     -    764.0M     -
-           sdb3        -              ext2     -    764.0M     -
-           sdb4        my-label       ext2     -    100.0M     -

This view allows the user to immediately gain an understanding of how any connected external media relates to the media definitions. For any external media to be made available on the system, a media definition has to be created to match a specific physical media device or a partition on the device. For more information how this is achieved refer to the Access External Media Devices page.

However, the basic meaning for each of the sub-headers in the output are as follows:

Active: A media definition that has a matching physical media device, and is as such Active and available to the user in the system. The internal media definition is a special case that represents the built-in flash media. All other created media definitions intend to match against a connected external media device.
Inactive: Media definitions, that have been created but currently have no matching external media device connected, will be listed here. For instance, any media definition would be listed here in case no external media device have been physically connected to the device. Hence, in this case they are Inactive since no physical device exist that match the media definition.
Available: Any physical connected external media that is not matched with a media definition will be listed here. They are available and need to be matched against a media definition to become Active and available in the system.

It is also possible to list information strictly related to the status of the connected external media device(s), using the show devices command in the media context:

example:/#> show media devices

Connected Media Devices                                                       
NAME      TYPE  NUM  LABEL                      FORMAT   SIZE     MOUNT-MEDIA 
sdb       disk  -    -                          -        3.7G     -
  sdb1    part  1    default                    ext3     1912M    external
  sdb2    part  2    my-files                   vfat     764M     -
  sdb3    part  3    -                          ext2     764M     -
  sdb4    part  4    my-label                   ext2     100M     -