NMT apps on NTFS volume

[rmu123]

I am using the C200 with a single 3,5 inch 1,5 TB HDD. I like to store my mediafiles on a NTFS partition, but also want to use the NMT apps.
After installing the latest firmware, I did a fresh setup op de NMT apps. This setup formatted my drive into four partitions (1 RAW, 3 EXT3). To be able to copy my mediafiles with ease and speed (by connecting it directely to the USB port of my Windows PC), I wanted the fourth (largest) partition to be NTFS instead of EXT3.
Here is what I did after a fresh setup op the NMT apps:

- Connected the 3,5 inch HDD to the USB port of my Windows PC
- Started Ext2Fsd 0.48 to mount the EXT3 volumes
- Copied the files and folders from the fourth (largest) EXT3 partition to a temporary folder on my local harddisk
- Deleted the large EXT3 partition with Windowd Disk Management
- Created a new primary NTFS partition from the resulting unallocated space
- Copied the files and folders from the temporary folder on my local disk back to the fourth partition (that is now NTFS).
- Re-inserted the 3,5 inch HDD into the C200
- Boot the C200

All seems to be working fine now, even after reinstalling the latest firmware and reinstalling the NMT apps with a 'typical' setup. And I have a NTFS partition to store all my mediafiles on. So now, I can easily copy my mediafiles to the HDD by pulling it out of the C200 and connecting it to the local USB port of my Windows PC, without using a EXT3 driver like Ext2Fsd.

Has anyone thought of this before? Before I start copying all my mediafiles to the HDD, I like to be sure if this is a safe way to setup it up. I don't like to be 'surprised' by future upgrades of the NMT apps that don't allow this..

[lordy]

Cool. In theory the only safe say is 'thier way', but if it works, it works!

IMO Using windows disk management to manipulate Disks for non windows OS is risky. Microsoft have a (deliberately) bad track record in this area.

I would have created a small (say 1G) ext3 data partition followed by the NTFS one. and hope that the NTFS apps install to the 1G partition.
Im not sure if hard links/ symlinks work *exactly* the same way in NTFS under linux. I know it has these capabilities , but not sure if they behave exactly the same in all circumstances.

As long as NMT apps upgrade never writes to the data partition you should be ok *touch wood*.

FWIW I know the network is slower, but I find repeated unplugging/plugging of things is a route to hardware failure.
USB is designed for it, but I dont think the actual sata connectors on the HDD are.

[rmu123]

(03-19-2010 12:27 PM)lordy Wrote:  Cool. In theory the only safe say is 'thier way', but if it works, it works!

IMO Using windows disk management to manipulate Disks for non windows OS is risky. Microsoft have a (deliberately) bad track record in this area.

I would have created a small (say 1G) ext3 data partition followed by the NTFS one. and hope that the NTFS apps install to the 1G partition.
Im not sure if hard links/ symlinks work *exactly* the same way in NTFS under linux. I know it has these capabilities , but not sure if they behave exactly the same in all circumstances.

As long as NMT apps upgrade never writes to the data partition you should be ok *touch wood*.

FWIW I know the network is slower, but I find repeated unplugging/plugging of things is a route to hardware failure.
USB is designed for it, but I dont think the actual sata connectors on the HDD are.

Hi Lordy,

Sure you're right; plugging the HDD in- and out is not ideal. But I prefer transferring very large files locally over transferring them over a 100 MB network.
I'll do an extra check on the NTFS partition for bad tracks. It's a 1,5 TB WD Green Power disk. I just remembered that I should also run the WD align utility to set it up for maximum performance.

My first thought was to resize the fourth EXT3 partition (to let's say: 10 GB) and then create an additional NTFS partition for my mediafiles. This doesn't work however, because Windows won't accept more than 4 primary partitions on a local disk.

---

I'm afraid I may have found an issue..
After rebooting the C200, Samba server and FTP server are working fine.
The usenet client (NZBget) however not. After manually stopping and starting the usenet client it does work again.
I have also installed some applications using CSI like Filemanager and Browser 3.3-nmt. Although CSI reports those applications to be running, they don't seem to be working.

Edit: after installing an application with CSI (for instance: FileManager), the result-screens shows that it cannot be started ('Operation not permitted'):

Found hardware type: Popcorn Hour C200
Found hardware type: Popcorn Hour C200


Application Initializer version 1.12
---------------------------------------
Checking for new version: up to date
Checking Application Initializer profile: Valid
Installing application from file /share/fileman.tar: Done
Starting FileManager: ln: /share/Apps/AppInit/websites/FileManager_web: Operation not permitted
Done

[rmu123]

aha.... just read that PopCorn is has release a (non public) beta version with the option to run the NMT Applications from a USB stick. That would be great: running the apps from a USB stick. allowing the internal HDD to be a single partitioned NTFS drive, exclusively for the mediafiles.
I'm defintely gonna wait for this one before transferring the data from my old mediaplayer to the C200!!

[niche2000]

(03-20-2010 07:31 PM)rmu123 Wrote:  aha.... just read that PopCorn is has release a (non public) beta version with the option to run the NMT Applications from a USB stick. That would be great: running the apps from a USB stick. allowing the internal HDD to be a single partitioned NTFS drive, exclusively for the mediafiles.
I'm defintely gonna wait for this one before transferring the data from my old mediaplayer to the C200!!

That is exactly my actual issue.
I want to let untouched my HDD with one large NTFS partition with lots of media files on it. But i would like to install NMT apps to install at least NFS server to access from my PC to the PCH.
So you said that it will come with the next firmware release, the one after 02-02-100214-19-POP-408 this one, Right ??

I'm not gonna sleep until that day.

[chris57]

It is hoped that the next open firmware release will include the ability to install the NMT Apps to a USB stick.

Downside is that no CSI apps work until the SATA_DISK references are changed to USB_DRIVE. But the default Syabas NMT Apps are fine.

We are now at RC1 stage, released today to the Beta Team. Whether there will be the need for RC2 or RC3 we will have wait for the results of the Beta Testing.

[rmu123]

How about NZBGet? Can it be configured to download directly to the SATA_DISK?
Is there a workaround to install CSI apps on the USB stick?

Looking very forward to this new firmware release...

[choke]

(04-20-2010 06:07 PM)chris57 Wrote:  It is hoped that the next open firmware release will include the ability to install the NMT Apps to a USB stick.

Hey!! Will A110 users have the same?

[rmu123]

Well, I installed the latest firmware and installing the NMT apps on the USB stick was a piece of cake!
All is running very smoothly and now I'm working with an internal 3,5 inch drive that is completely NTFS fomatted.
Had no problem to redirect NZBGet's queue- and download folder to the NTFS drive.
Today there will be a public beta release of CSI available that should be able to install apps on the USB stick... perfect!