HOW TO: The NMT Apps drive, NTFS for data, the CSI/iPkg apps, on one drive

[nuke12]

Many Windows users want a NTFS partition as their data partition on the same drive as the NMT apps are installed on. I can understand this, as it is easier for them to access the media files from their desktop. It also makes recovery of the files easier when problems arise with the hard drive. So far this has been easy. We suggest deleting the last Ext3 partition and making it NTFS. This works with all current firmware with all PCHs.

Some users also want to install CSI apps and iPkg apps on the same drive. Currently they get installed to the NTFS partition. This works for some of the apps but not all, if they use Linux links. Linux links do not seem to work on an NTFS partition.

The purpose of this post is explain how to have one hard drive as the NMT Apps drive, a NTFS data partition and still have functioning CSI/iPkg apps all on the same drive.

Tools
A bootable Linux CD.
• GParted ISO - http://sourceforge.net/projects/gparted/...o/download
Use version 0.7.0. or later.
• Parted Magic ISO - https://sourceforge.net/projects/partedm...o/download

The A-100/110
All of these units create three primary partitions when the NMT apps are installed. The steps;

1) Install the hard drive in the Popcorn and allow it to install the NMT apps. Do not install CSI until all steps are done. When finished, power off and remove the drive.
2) Install the drive in a computer and boot with one of the above CDs. Start the GParted app.
3) Delete the last and largest partition on the drive.
4) Create a new primary Ext3 partition. A 2GB size should be fine for many but consider making it larger if your using torrents or usenet. The size you would need to store files before moving them to the NTFS partition. This will be your CSI and iPkg partition.
5) Create a new primary NTFS partition. This partition will use the remainder of the drive. This will be your data partition.

Issues
The A-100/110 will mount the NTFS partition as read-only. I'm told this will be fixed in the next firmware update after 01-17-101217-15-POP-403. As a workaround until then, add the following lines to the "start_app.sh" file. At the end of the file and just before the "exit 0" line. Use a Linux editor or the Windows Notepad++ editor.

NOTE: This issue should be fixed in the latest firmware. Note made on April 11 2011

Code:

sleep 2
umount /dev/hda4
mount -t tntfs -o rw,uid=1001,gid=1001,umask=00,nls=utf8,errors=continue,mft_zone_multiplier=1 /dev/hda4 /opt/sybhttpd/localhost.drives/HARD_DISK_A4

The 200 Series PCHs
This animal is a little different because it is already using four primary partitions. The steps;

1) Install the hard drive in the Popcorn and allow it to install the NMT apps. Do not install CSI until all steps are done. When finished, power off and remove the drive.
2) Install the drive in a computer and boot with one of the above CDs. Start the GParted app.
3) Delete the last and largest partition on the drive.
4) Create a new extended partition that uses all of the drive space.
5) The next two partitions are created inside the extended partition.
6) Create a new logical Ext3 partition. A 2GB size should be fine for many but consider making it larger if your using torrents or usenet. The size you would need to store files before moving them to the NTFS partition. This will be your CSI and iPkg partition.
7) Create a new logical NTFS partition. This partition will use the remainder of the drive. This will be your data partition.

Issues
As I recall, you will have to go into Setup -> Maintenance -> NMT setup wizard -> Media Setup and point the unit at the Ext3 partition you created in #6. Do this before installing CSI/iPkg.

[chris57]

I think we should add this to the WIKI. What do you think nuke? It would seem to fit in well on this page:
http://www.networkedmediatank.com/wiki/i...DD_to_Ext3
and change the title to something else

How to Format to Ext or Convert to NTFS via your PC

[nuke12]

Chris, if it's helpful to people and your doing the wiki work, help your self.

[dc11ab]

As a quickie, I added a link to this excellent guide from the NMT Apps wiki page:
http://www.networkedmediatank.com/wiki/i...p/NMT_Apps

[chris57]

Wikified:-
http://www.networkedmediatank.com/wiki/i...e_CSI_Apps

[floydo]

(03-27-2011 01:53 PM)nuke12 Wrote:  Many Windows users want a NTFS partition as their data partition on the same drive as the NMT apps are installed on. I can understand this, as it is easier for them to access the media files from their desktop. It also makes recovery of the files easier when problems arise with the hard drive. So far this has been easy. We suggest deleting the last Ext3 partition and making it NTFS. This works with all current firmware with all PCHs.

The A-100/110/A-2x0 PCHs
All of these units create three primary partitions when the NMT apps are installed. The steps;

1) Install the hard drive in the Popcorn and allow it to install the NMT apps. Do not install CSI until all steps are done. When finished, power off and remove the drive.
2) Install the drive in a computer and boot with one of the above CDs. Start the GParted app.
3) Delete the last and largest partition on the drive.
4) Create a new primary Ext3 partition. A 2GB size should be fine for many but consider making it larger if your using torrents or usenet. The size you would need to store files before moving them to the NTFS partition. This will be your CSI and iPkg partition.
5) Create a new primary NTFS partition. This partition will use the remainder of the drive. This will be your data partition.

I just tried this on a new 2TB HDD for an A210 with current firmware ( 02-04-110308-21-POP-411-000) and think I correctly implemented the idea of these instructions, but ran into a problem...the directions indicate to delete the last partition and create a new ext3 primary partition. That makes sda1, sda2, sda3 which were created by A210, sda4 (the new ext3 primary), and the big unallocated space. If you then try to make the unallocated into NTFS you get an error "not possible to create more than 4 primary partitions". So what I did was resize sda3 from 2G to 4G, then create the unallocated 1.8Tb to NTFS. In other words A210 installation of the apps already created 3 ext3 partitions and an unallocated large area, so I used the unallocated area rather than create a new ext3 partition.
Is this a correct? If so shouldn't the wiki say "use or resize sda3 for CSI and iPkg partition" rather than "create a new ext 3 primary partition" since the A210 already created sda1, sda2 (linux-swap), and sda3? In the end I think we want sda1, sda2, sda3 and NTFS, based on the explanations vs the steps.....(?)
Also this post by nuke12 http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showth...?tid=46055 indicates a method to correctly align the 4K drives. Is it necessary to go back and do an alignment after going through the steps above?
Thanks for the writeup!
But still a bit puzzled

[chris57]

There is certainly no need to do the alignment if you are using the latest firmware and the A210 as that has now fixed the problem for 4k sector HDD's.

nuke12 will im sure comment on the other point.

[BanditRider]

I believe the A200/A210 create 4 partitions during a Fresh Install.

[nuke12]

(04-25-2011 12:33 PM)BanditRider Wrote:  I believe the A200/A210 create 4 partitions during a Fresh Install.

I don't have a A200/210 but I was told there were only three partitions. The NMT apps partition, a swap partition and the users data partition.

My understanding is they don't have the blu-ray live partition like the C-200 has.

Can someone someone confirm or deny this so I can change things if necessary? This is for a hard drive and not a USB stick.

P.S. - If the NMT apps install does create 4 partitions, then you would have to do the same as the C-200.

[floydo]

(04-25-2011 12:57 PM)nuke12 Wrote:  

(04-25-2011 12:33 PM)BanditRider Wrote:  I believe the A200/A210 create 4 partitions during a Fresh Install.

I don't have a A200/210 but I was told there were only three partitions. The NMT apps partition, a swap partition and the users data partition.

My understanding is they don't have the blu-ray live partition like the C-200 has.

Can someone someone confirm or deny this so I can change things if necessary? This is for a hard drive and not a USB stick.

P.S. - If the NMT apps install does create 4 partitions, then you would have to do the same as the C-200.

For me the A210 with Samsung 2TB HDD sets up the apps as follows - Gparted shows the hard drive has sda1 (ext3) 954MB (with some portion used), sda2 (linux swap) 489MB, sda3 (ext3) 1.86MB (with some portion used), and the unallocated 1.82TB.

I tried deleting the unallocated portion, then creating a new small (4GB) primary ext4, and then tried to create and format the remaining unallocated large part into NTFS, but got the "not possible to create more than 4 primary partitions". So does sda1,2,3,unallocated means there are 4 partitions? Second time around I made sda3 larger and then formatted the unallocated to NTFS. When the HDD returned to the A210 in setup the apps showed all the (Samba, etc) grayed out and you could not change them.

I did puzzle over the D200 instructions for second time around. Step 3) Delete the last and largest partition on the drive. I assumed was referring to the sda3, but I was concerned about deleting sda3 created by NMT since it apparently had data, or used space, in it as shown by Gparted. Second time around did not work, however perhaps as a newbie to this I do not understand the D200 instructions 3), 4), and 5). I assumed the unallocated counts as a partition (to be).

Could you clarify? --- the 4 partitions statement, and for the D200 is it meant that sda3 is deleted even though it shows as having data in it from the formatting by the A210?

Going thru this again for the A210, it looks like one should delete sda3, then create a new sda3, then create a new large NTFS. Is that correct, or?

Thanks - those darn details.

[nuke12]

Ok, I'm confused.

There should be no unallocated space on the drive after the NMT apps are installed. It seems there should be 4 partitions but something screwed up. The unallocated space should be the 4th partition but was not created. It is also the user's data partition and the largest (by far) of any of the partitions.

From what your telling me, you should have an sda1-sda4 but don't.

Would you mind trying to install the NMT apps again?

If you do get four partitions this time then follow the instructions for the C-200.

[floydo]

(04-25-2011 04:09 PM)nuke12 Wrote:  Ok, I'm confused.

There should be no unallocated space on the drive after the NMT apps are installed. It seems there should be 4 partitions but something screwed up. The unallocated space should be the 4th partition but was not created. It is also the user's data partition and the largest (by far) of any of the partitions.

From what your telling me, you should have an sda1-sda4 but don't.

Would you mind trying to install the NMT apps again?

If you do get four partitions this time then follow the instructions for the C-200.

I will try reinstalling, but am not sure I can resolve what Gparted showed and you describe. When Gparted is booted up after the installation there are the sda1,2,3 (all ext3), and an unallocated 1.86TB shown. There is no sda4 (with the A210 current firmware). The apps were loaded from the internet to the A210.
Given that scenario, could you explain -
3) Delete the last and largest partition on the drive.
4) Create a new extended partition that uses all of the drive space.
5) The next two partitions are created inside the extended partition.
6) Create a new logical Ext3 partition. A 2GB size should be fine...

Is the intent to delete the unallocated portion (which I guess is sda4 normally) and sda3 which apparently has some data in it?

You are saying one should expect sda1-4. Then for the C200 method delete sda4, create a new sda4 that uses all of the remaining drive space, then create a 2GB ext3 partition inside this sda4?...Could you clarify?
Thx

[nuke12]

I'm using your eyes and I'm going by what your telling me.

Without the NMT apps creating a sda4 partition, your drive would not work in normal applications. That is aside of what we are trying to do here. If the person wanted to put their user data on an ext3 partition, it wouldn't work with what your telling me. Simply because the partition is not there.

Assuming there should be four partitions, don't touch sda1, sda2 or sda3. You would only delete sda4, create an extended partition using all of the space that sda4 contained. Within that extended partition, create 2 logical partitions as explained in the first post for the C-200 instructions.

[floydo]

(04-25-2011 05:07 PM)nuke12 Wrote:  I'm using your eyes and I'm going by what your telling me.

Without the NMT apps creating a sda4 partition, your drive would not work in normal applications. That is aside of what we are trying to do here. If the person wanted to put their user data on an ext3 partition, it wouldn't work with what your telling me. Simply because the partition is not there.

Assuming there should be four partitions, don't touch sda1, sda2 or sda3. You would only delete sda4, create an extended partition using all of the space that sda4 contained. Within that extended partition, create 2 logical partitions as explained in the first post for the C-200 instructions.

If I could take a picture of Gparted (my odd experience with NMT apps), I would, and I appreciate your help. It will take a couple days, but will give it a shot. I am not clear on how to partition the extended partition into a 2GB ext3 as described in step 6), and the remainder ~1.8TB into NTFS.
If you can elaborate or point to a reference to that last, it would be great.
Maybe Chris, or you could clarify the instruction for A210 based on Banditriders and my comments.
Thx!

[nuke12]

A drive can only have a max of 4 primary partitions. To allow having more then 4 partitions, we delete one of the primary partitions, create an extended partition (replacing the primary partition), and create logical partitions within the extended partition.

Perhaps you should read up on extended & logical partitions before doing this? It might help understand what is going on? It is more complex, when you need more then 4 partitions.

I don't want to change instructions, until I know exactly what is happening. Hopefully, your doing this, will help.