Can i format a partition only of my hard disk for NMT?

[macboa]

Hi guys!

Just got my NMT. I have this 2.5" 250gb seagate hard disk.

I made 3 partitions:
1 - 30gb FAT32
2 - NTFS
3 - NTFS

Can I just use the first partition for the NMT to format it to EXT3 so that I can install apps to my hard disk?

As much as possible I don't want my files to be deleted on the 2nd and 3rd partition.

Thank you very much. Appreciate your help.

[nuke12]

(05-02-2009 03:10 PM)macboa Wrote:  Hi guys!

Just got my NMT. I have this 2.5" 250gb seagate hard disk.

I made 3 partitions:
1 - 30gb FAT32
2 - NTFS
3 - NTFS

Can I just use the first partition for the NMT to format it to EXT3 so that I can install apps to my hard disk?

As much as possible I don't want my files to be deleted on the 2nd and 3rd partition.

Thank you very much. Appreciate your help.

Nope. Copy the files off and the NMT will create 2 ext3 partitions and one swap partition.

When you install a drive, the NMT wants the whole drive and not just a partition.

[macboa]

I see. So I really need to provide her with her very own HD.

Quote:Nope. Copy the files off and the NMT will create 2 ext3 partitions and one swap partition.

All in all, it will make 3 partitions of EXT 2/3? And I can only use it as a USB slave while inserted in the NMT?

Thanks in advance.

[nuke12]

(05-02-2009 04:46 PM)macboa Wrote:  I see. So I really need to provide her with her very own HD.

All in all, it will make 3 partitions of EXT 2/3? And I can only use it as a USB slave while inserted in the NMT?

Thanks in advance.

The newer firmware will only create ext3 filesystems. ext2 is no longer used.

It's not a USB drive when used inside the NMT. It would be the same as your main drive in a computer (just that the NMT wants the whole drive). The internal drive uses either PATA or SATA and not a USB interface.

[chris57]

Yes when the drive is formatted and installed you will be able to use the USB slave socket on the rear. Follow the guide here:-
http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showth...?tid=12176

You will be able to access it via FTP, SMB etc if you have it networked aswell.

[nuke12]

(05-03-2009 10:55 AM)chris57 Wrote:  Yes when the drive is formatted and installed you will be able to use the USB slave socket on the rear. Follow the guide here:-
http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showth...?tid=12176

You will be able to access it via FTP, SMB etc if you have it networked aswell.

LOL, I read his question in a different way but I think you have the correct reply.

[chris57]

You could be right, between us we have it covered

[BuddyBoy]

It may be possible to limit (or reduce) the size of the third partition, leaving room on the drive for additional file systems, and still have the NMT accept your drive as having the NMT apps on it. I don't think anyone's ever tried it. If the NMT specifically checks for either 1) additional partitions, or 2) a third partition that doesn't extend to the end of the of the disk, it might not work.

I see two ways of testing this. First way is to let the NMT create the file systems, then use a third-party utility to reduce the size of the third ext3 partition, and then create one or more file systems in the unallocated space. If everything works, your NMT apps will still be available, you'll see your third ext3 partition as "HARD_DISK", and your extra partitions as "HARD_DISK_A4", "HARD_DISK_A5", etc. If it doesn't work, your NMT apps may disappear, and you'll also see "HARD_DISK_A1" and "HARD_DISK_A3", meaning the NMT didn't accept your hard drive as having NMT apps installed on it.

The second way, for experienced Linux users only, is to follow the wiki article in my signature, but limit the size of the third partition, and create one or more additional partitions in the unallocated space. The advantage of this method is that it will only take about 15 minutes to try it and see if it works.