Expanding /mnt/mmcblk0p1

[lykkedk]

Hi Forum.

While i am working on a script, to choose between; say 2-3 different kernel's and /tce -dir's, i found that copying files in and out from the VFAT mmcblk0p1 partition, is somehow problematic, due to timestamp's, owner of the mounted partition, and so on...

So, i figured out, that having a bigger mmcblk0p1, was the easiest method for me.

I did left some space, after i expanded the mmcblk0p2 partition, when i flashed the piCore.img, a while back. In that space i created mmcblk0p3/EXT4, and copyed the hole mmcblk0p1 (boot, kernel, initrd, config etc... etc..) over, just for having a backup on card, if i messed something up.

I now need to expand my mmcblk0p1 partition, and i am i doubt if it's possible at all ?
Ofcause, i will have to accept a slight smaller mmcblk0p2 partition, but there are plenty of place allready, so no problem

My partitions is as this ::

Disk /dev/mmcblk0: 4008 MB, 4008706048 bytes
4 heads, 16 sectors/track, 122336 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 64 * 512 = 32768 bytes

        Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks  Id System
/dev/mmcblk0p1              33         704       21504   6 FAT16
/dev/mmcblk0p2             705       92258     2929728  83 Linux
/dev/mmcblk0p3           92259      122336      962496  83 Linux

Hoping, i can get some hint's howto do this ?

Regards;
   Jesper.

[bmarkus]

It is easy.

- backup content of /mnt/mmcblk0p1
- delete all partitions
- create a new VFAT partition starting at the same sector as deleted 1st partition started in any size
- format this partition (/dev/mmcblk0p1)
- copy files you saved in first step

You are ready, you have a bootable piCore system. Do whatever you want with the remainaing part of the SD card. Create additional partition to hold /tce, swap or to play with funny file systems like xfs, btrfs, ...

What is important do not touch sectors below the starting sector of first partition, it is used by the system.

[lykkedk]

Hi... Thx...

- backup content of /mnt/mmcblk0p1
- delete all partitions
- create a new VFAT partition starting at the same sector as deleted 1st partition started in any size
- format this partition (/dev/mmcblk0p1)
- copy files you saved in first step

But problem is, that i need my hole setup, on mmcblk0p2 (special homemade tcz's, scripts in home/tc, opt/bootlocal /mnt/mmcblk0p2/tce/onboot... also persistance /etc/fstab, etc... etc...)
Sure, i could write it all up, and make copys... but i was hoping for a easier way ??

Regards;
   Jesper.

[bmarkus]

Even if there is a method to shrink partition with data the first step is to make backup which means copying the whole content. In such case you do the repartitioning. We are not talking about terabytes. Take an USB stick.

[bmarkus]

Well, you can play with dd offset values dd'ng the second partition to file and restoring to different place, etc. Good practice to learn how storage is partitioned, meaning if figures, etc. And how to recover lost data.

[lykkedk]

Cool.. I will try to make it somehow!

What about mydata.gz, isent that backup of what needed ??

[lykkedk]

Hi...

I now have created this 'beta' script, which switch between two kernel's, cmdline, config.txt, initrd and set tce=mmcblk0p2/tce-b visa versa /tce

I tried booting, as this, resulting in "ofcause" no ethernet, as openssh, was not "loaded" at boot.

I then copyed openssh + openssl onto mmcblk0p2/tce-b/optional, and put in the line in onboot.lst : openssh.tcz
But still no ethernet 

What am i missing here ?

Regards;
   Jesper.

[bmarkus]

Is openssh started in bootlocal.sh?

[lykkedk]

Hi...

Yes now it is..

Did an extract of my MYDATA.TGZ, kernel B boots now, and i can login via ssh now

But i am fighting some permissions, giving me no access to home/tc ;-)

Will look at it tomorrow...

Good evening

[lykkedk]

Bela'

Btw: do you have an default mydata.tgz, you use for the images ??

Regards;
   Jesper

[bmarkus]

Download and check For SSH yes.

[lykkedk]

 

Sry... Lost it i guess...

Download and check ?..

Regards;
   jesper.

[bmarkus]

Download the piCore distribution SD card images and check mydata.gz

[lykkedk]

Ahh... Okay

[lykkedk]

 

Soo...!

While trying, i need a tcz, for creating vfat (mkfs.vfat) -Having hard time finding that ?

does it excist ?

Regards;
   Jesper.