Mint Extended filesystem

As of version 1.15, standard MINT supports by default both the TOS and FAT32 filesystem. Addition filesystem such as Minix and Ext2 FS are supported via the loadable filesystem in the form of ".XFS" extensions located in the MiNT SYSDIR folder. As of writing, minix.xfs and ext2.xfs are distributed along with the MiNT distribution. 

FAT32 is a Windows filesystem that supports long file name and lower case but case insensitive filenames. 

Ext2 is a Linux filesystem that supports long file name, case sensitive filenames (lower and upper case are different) and file access control list (permissions).

1. Preparing the hard disk

If you have followed the "Quick & Dirty method to install Atari Mint" step 1, you would have noted that it mentioned to create 3 partitions - one for TOS, and the other two for the new MiNT filesystem. If you have done that, then you are on your way, otherwise, you may need to start the entire MiNT installation again and create those 2 extra partition mentioned in the "Quick & Dirty method to install Atari Mint" step 1. However, if you don't care about it, just feel free to skip the rest of this document.

Assuming you have 2 extra partitions, we will make one for the Ext2 and the other for FAT32.

This part assumes that you have HDDriver, you need to change the 2 partition type using the HDDriver utility program

1. 1. 1. 1. RAW for the Ext2 partition

         2. F32 for the FAT32 partition

Do not change the 1st partition type, as this is your TOS partition, and may render it unbootable.

Make sure that the RAW and F32 are in upper case when you type them in the "Change Partition Type" dialog box of HDDutil.

If HDDriver suggest that you reboot your computer, do so. Anyway, if it don't, just reboot for good measures. 

2. Tools for formatting the Ext2 and FAT32 partitions

When your MiNT Teradesk desktop come up, your C: drive is accessible as it is your TOS partition.

Your D: drive will still be inaccessible (this is your RAW type) but your E: drive should be accessible (this is your FAT32).

HDDriver does a FAT32 structure automatically, so your MiNT is able to access it! 

You need to download the formatter for Ext2 filesystem :

1. 1. 1. • Download the Ext2 formatter e2fsprogs 1.19 Rel.1

It is a gzipped tar, you will need program called gzip and tar to extract the file. Again this file has long file names and need MiNT tools to extract them. So to avoid complications, extract the files in Windows.

1. 1. 1. • You should only extract TWO files.

Extract the file mkfs.ext2 and fsck.ext3 from the subfolder sbin in the archive and transfer them to the Atari. Place the 2 files into a folder of your choice, as long as you can find them again.

You will notice that the mkfs.ext2 are meant for Unix style environment because it does not contain any extensions (ie no TOS and TPP). Another chicken and egg thing here, as we need to have a Unix style filesystem before we can run an application the Unix way - we need set "executable bits on" so that MiNT knows it is an executable. And there is no way to do this on a TOS file system, so MiNT thinks it is a document when you double click on it !

To ensure that MiNT runs the them as executable, gives the files the TTP extension by renaming them:

• • • mkfs.ext2 (may be truncated by GEMDOS anyway) to mke2fs.ttp

3. Formatting the Ext2 partition

Recall that our partitions on the hard disk currently are as follows:

• 1. 1. • Drive C: is boot up partition in TOS partition

        • Drive D: is the RAW type to be a Ext2 partition

        • Drive E: is the F32 type to be a FAT32 partition

Format the Drive D: to be a Ext2 partition by double clicking on the mke2fs.ttp and enter D: into the TOS parameter dialog box.  A TOS window will appear alerting that D: will be formatted and all data will be lost, answer Y. Some information about the drive will be displayed and it will complete in less than 2 minutes.

4. Verifying the Ext2 and FAT32 partition

You now completed installing the extended filesystem for MiNT.

1. 1. 1. • Drive C: is the TOS partition

         • Drive D: is the Ext2 partition

         • Drive E: is the FAT32 partition

You should run the program FSETTER to review that the filesystems are installed as above.

The pictures below show how a Ext2 and a FAT32 filesystem information looks like.

5. File system Check for Ext2

You should do a fsck (Unix talk = fish check) which is a filesystem check on your Ext2 FS on every bootup. This is a good practice for Unix system, and so like wise for your MiNT system. 

1. 1. 1. • • Copy the fsck.ext3 that you extracted earlier to folder c:/mint/bin/.

           • Rename it from fsck.ext3 to e2fsck.

           • Enter the following into the MiNT.CNF file in the EXEC section:

  exec c:/mint/bin/e2fsck -pC 0 d:

This exec line was also mentioned in the configuration of Mint earlier.

Next:  04 Mint Unix-like environment