How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[Conn Clark]

Hi All,

	How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?
After a reboot I can mount my jffs2 and read from it, but not write to it
I can erase it first and mount it then read and write to it , but then I
lose my info on it which defeats the whole reason for having it.


Here is what I am doing.


[/]# MAKEDEV
[/]# mkdir gpig         
[/]# mount /dev/mtdblock3 /gpig
[/]# cd gpig
[/gpig]# ls
kernel_192e_V0.0.03ps
[/gpig]# cp ../bin/MAKEALL .
cp: ../bin/MAKEALL: No such file or directory
[/gpig]# 
[/gpig]# cp ../bin/MAKEDEV .
Write of 68 bytes at 0x00059a28 failed. returned 0, retlen 0
Not marking the space at 0x00059a28 as dirty because the flash driver returned retlen
zero
cp: ./MAKEDEV: Input/output error
[/gpig]# 
 
What step am I missing?


Thanks in advance

	Conn
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Re: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[Jörn Engel]

On Mon, 19 August 2002 10:34:23 -0700, Conn Clark wrote:
> 	How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?
> After a reboot I can mount my jffs2 and read from it, but not write to it
> I can erase it first and mount it then read and write to it , but then I
> lose my info on it which defeats the whole reason for having it.

1) Append "rw" to kernel command line.
2) mount / -o remount,rw

Jörn

-- 
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
-- Albert Einstein

Re: Re: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[Conn Clark]

Jörn Engel wrote:
> 
> On Mon, 19 August 2002 10:34:23 -0700, Conn Clark wrote:
> >       How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?
> > After a reboot I can mount my jffs2 and read from it, but not write to it
> > I can erase it first and mount it then read and write to it , but then I
> > lose my info on it which defeats the whole reason for having it.
> 
> 1) Append "rw" to kernel command line.
> 2) mount / -o remount,rw
> 
> Jörn
> 
> --
> Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
> -- Albert Einstein

	Didn't work, I get the same message. Did I do it right?

[/gpig]# cd ..
[/]# mount /gpig -o remount,rw
[/]# cd gpig
[/gpig]# cp ../bin/MAKEDEV .                                                    
Write of 68 bytes at 0x00059a28 failed. returned 0, retlen 0
Not marking the space at 0x00059a28 as dirty because the flash driver returned r
etlen zero
cp: ./MAKEDEV: Input/output error
[/gpig]# 


-- 

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  If you live at home long enough, your parents will move out.
 (Warning they may try to sell their house out from under you.)
*****************************************************************

Conn Clark
Engineering Stooge				clark@esteem.com
Electronic Systems Technology Inc.		www.esteem.com

Stock Ticker Symbol				ELST

"clark@esteem.com" Copyright 2000 By Electronic Systems Technology
 This email address may be used to communicate to Conn Clark
 provided it is not being used for advertisement purposes, unless
 prior written consent is given. This email address may not be 
 sold under any circumstances. All other rights reserved.

RE: Re: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[Christopher Hoover]

Do you need to unlock your flash before you can write to it?  That's not
done automatically by mtd or jffs2.  There's a diff in the ARM patch
system by me that might be applicable.

-ch

Re: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[David Woodhouse]

ch@murgatroid.com said:
>  Do you need to unlock your flash before you can write to it?  That's
> not done automatically by mtd or jffs2.  There's a diff in the ARM
> patch system by me that might be applicable. 

I'm beginning to wonder if we should make JFFS2 unlock automatically if it 
finds at least some JFFS2 nodes. Or put in the 'is_flash_locked' method and 
make JFFS2 notice that it's locked _before_ trying to write to it, and 
print an appropriate message and mount in read-only mode so it doesn't even 
let you _try_ to write to it.

--
dwmw2

Re: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[Jamey Hicks]

David Woodhouse wrote:

>ch@murgatroid.com said:
>  
>
>> Do you need to unlock your flash before you can write to it?  That's
>>not done automatically by mtd or jffs2.  There's a diff in the ARM
>>patch system by me that might be applicable. 
>>    
>>
>
>I'm beginning to wonder if we should make JFFS2 unlock automatically if it 
>finds at least some JFFS2 nodes. Or put in the 'is_flash_locked' method and 
>make JFFS2 notice that it's locked _before_ trying to write to it, and 
>print an appropriate message and mount in read-only mode so it doesn't even 
>let you _try_ to write to it.
>  
>
I would much rather that JFFS2 not unlock blocks automatically.  We tend 
to lock blocks for a reason (e.g., so that we don't accidentally erase 
the boot loader with incorrect mount options).  I think it would be 
reasonable for JFFS2 to query whether flash is locked beforehand and to 
mount read-only.  I think it would also be reasonable to provide a mount 
option directing it to unlock flash.  

Jamey

Re: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[David Woodhouse]

jamey.hicks@hp.com said:
>  I would much rather that JFFS2 not unlock blocks automatically.  We
> tend  to lock blocks for a reason (e.g., so that we don't accidentally
> erase  the boot loader with incorrect mount options).  I think it
> would be  reasonable for JFFS2 to query whether flash is locked
> beforehand and to  mount read-only.  I think it would also be
> reasonable to provide a mount  option directing it to unlock flash.  

Yeah -- you're probably right. That's the reason I refused to do the 
automatic unlock when it was originally suggested. We are fairly good about 
aborting a mount attempt if it really doesn't look like a JFFS2 partition, 
but if you have the partitioning wrong so that the range we try to mount 
includes some JFFS2 _and_ something important, that's still going to break.


--
dwmw2

Re: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[Jörn Engel]

On Tue, 20 August 2002 13:19:14 +0100, David Woodhouse wrote:
> Yeah -- you're probably right. That's the reason I refused to do the 
> automatic unlock when it was originally suggested. We are fairly good about 
> aborting a mount attempt if it really doesn't look like a JFFS2 partition, 
> but if you have the partitioning wrong so that the range we try to mount 
> includes some JFFS2 _and_ something important, that's still going to break.

And if we have an old jffs2 partition that was partially overwritten
by cramfs. Without a prior erase, this will be identified as jffs2.

Pretty rare in production systems, though.

Jörn

-- 
Those who come seeking peace without a treaty are plotting.
-- Sun Tzu

RE: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[Christopher Hoover]

> I would much rather that JFFS2 not unlock blocks automatically.  We
tend 
> to lock blocks for a reason (e.g., so that we don't accidentally erase

> the boot loader with incorrect mount options).

You have a different flavor flash.  My platform uses Intel C3
StrataFlash parts.  The flash is completely locked after any power
cycle.   If I don't unlock the jffs2 partition somehow someway, I can't
write to it.

I suppose we could add yet another mount option for this
("really_and_truly_rw"!).

-ch
ch@murgatroid.com
ch@hpl.hp.com

Re: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[Jörn Engel]

On Tue, 20 August 2002 09:34:12 -0700, Christopher Hoover wrote:
> You have a different flavor flash.  My platform uses Intel C3
> StrataFlash parts.  The flash is completely locked after any power
> cycle.   If I don't unlock the jffs2 partition somehow someway, I can't
> write to it.
> 
> I suppose we could add yet another mount option for this
> ("really_and_truly_rw"!).

If this is a problem (feature/whatever) of one flash type, why not
encapsulate it in the low level driver? It would keep the jffs2 code
clean of what could be considered a bugfix.

Jörn

-- 
I can say that I spend most of my time fixing bugs even if I have lots
of new features to implement in mind, but I give bugs more priority.
-- Andrea Arcangeli, 2000

RE: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[Christopher Hoover]

> If this is a problem (feature/whatever) of one flash type, why not
> encapsulate it in the low level driver? It would keep the jffs2 code
> clean of what could be considered a bugfix.

That was my first thought. I submitted such a patch (-- it should be in
the archives), but IIRC David didn't want it applied to CVS.  He
suggested that I move this to the SA-1100 partition code.   I did that,
but that has its own ugliness.

-ch

Re: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[David Woodhouse]

ch@murgatroid.com said:
> That was my first thought. I submitted such a patch (-- it should be
> in the archives), but IIRC David didn't want it applied to CVS.  He
> suggested that I move this to the SA-1100 partition code.   I did
> that, but that has its own ugliness.

I never claimed not to be fickle. If your patch did the unlock 
automatically _only_ for the C3 flash which locks itself every power cycle, 
try me again :)

--
dwmw2

Re: Re: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[Conn Clark]

Christopher Hoover wrote:
> 
> Do you need to unlock your flash before you can write to it?  That's not
> done automatically by mtd or jffs2.  There's a diff in the ARM patch
> system by me that might be applicable.
> 
> -ch
> 
> ______________________________________________________
> Linux MTD discussion mailing list
> http://lists.infradead.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-mtd/

This is what I needed to know and is probably the culprit. However my unlock
utility is broken. I can tell this because it doesn't even try to move through
the sectors in the partition like the lock command does.


I think I have it under control now.

Thanks.

	Conn
-- 

*****************************************************************
  If you live at home long enough, your parents will move out.
 (Warning they may try to sell their house out from under you.)
*****************************************************************

Conn Clark
Engineering Stooge				clark@esteem.com
Electronic Systems Technology Inc.		www.esteem.com

Stock Ticker Symbol				ELST

"clark@esteem.com" Copyright 2000 By Electronic Systems Technology
 This email address may be used to communicate to Conn Clark
 provided it is not being used for advertisement purposes, unless
 prior written consent is given. This email address may not be 
 sold under any circumstances. All other rights reserved.

Re: Re: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[Conn Clark]

Conn Clark wrote:
> 
> Christopher Hoover wrote:
> >
> > Do you need to unlock your flash before you can write to it?  That's not
> > done automatically by mtd or jffs2.  There's a diff in the ARM patch
> > system by me that might be applicable.
> >
> > -ch
> >
> > ______________________________________________________
> > Linux MTD discussion mailing list
> > http://lists.infradead.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-mtd/
> 
> This is what I needed to know and is probably the culprit. However my unlock
> utility is broken. I can tell this because it doesn't even try to move through
> the sectors in the partition like the lock command does.
> 
> I think I have it under control now.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
>         Conn
 I meant to say move through the sectors like the erase command, however I
can see that the lock command works very similar to the unlock command. This
makes me suspect that I have something wrong in the kernel code.

here is what I have.

I am running on a MPC850 PowerPC processor.
I am using a single intel TE28F320C3BA110 flash chip mapped as a 16 bit device. 
I am using kernel 2.4.19 from kernel.org with the shared zlib patch.

I had to change 2 lines in cfi_cmdset_0001.c from

        extp->FeatureSupport = cfi32_to_cpu(extp->FeatureSupport);
        extp->BlkStatusRegMask = cfi32_to_cpu(extp->BlkStatusRegMask);

to

        extp->FeatureSupport = le32_to_cpu(extp->FeatureSupport);
        extp->BlkStatusRegMask = le16_to_cpu(extp->BlkStatusRegMask);

in order to fix an endian issue.

I had to create a custom map driver as well.

Any ideas on what else I have to change to get the lock/unlock commands to work?

Thanks in advance,
        Conn
-- 

*****************************************************************
  If you live at home long enough, your parents will move out.
 (Warning they may try to sell their house out from under you.)
*****************************************************************

Conn Clark
Engineering Stooge				clark@esteem.com
Electronic Systems Technology Inc.		www.esteem.com

Stock Ticker Symbol				ELST

"clark@esteem.com" Copyright 2000 By Electronic Systems Technology
 This email address may be used to communicate to Conn Clark
 provided it is not being used for advertisement purposes, unless
 prior written consent is given. This email address may not be 
 sold under any circumstances. All other rights reserved.

RE: Re: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[Christopher Hoover]

At one point locking and unlocking flash with variable-sized blocks
(such as Intel C3 flash) simply didn't work.  I fixed it -- the correct
code is in CVS and in current 2.4 (after some release I cannot
remember), but the changes unfortunately aren't in 2.5.

Check drivers/mtd/chips/cfi_cmdset_0001.c in your sources.   You should
see a changelog entry from me dated 02/05/2002; if you don't see it, you
don't have the fix.

-ch
ch@murgatroid.com
ch@hpl.hp.com

Re: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[Conn Clark]

Christopher Hoover wrote:
> 
> At one point locking and unlocking flash with variable-sized blocks
> (such as Intel C3 flash) simply didn't work.  I fixed it -- the correct
> code is in CVS and in current 2.4 (after some release I cannot
> remember), but the changes unfortunately aren't in 2.5.
> 
> Check drivers/mtd/chips/cfi_cmdset_0001.c in your sources.   You should
> see a changelog entry from me dated 02/05/2002; if you don't see it, you
> don't have the fix.
> 
> -ch
> ch@murgatroid.com
> ch@hpl.hp.com

I don't have it. Can I just drop it in or are there other files I need to
get/update? I haven't used CVS before so I will need help doing that if thats
the best way of getting all relevant files. 

Thanks

	Conn
-- 

*****************************************************************
  If you live at home long enough, your parents will move out.
 (Warning they may try to sell their house out from under you.)
*****************************************************************

Conn Clark
Engineering Stooge				clark@esteem.com
Electronic Systems Technology Inc.		www.esteem.com

Stock Ticker Symbol				ELST

"clark@esteem.com" Copyright 2000 By Electronic Systems Technology
 This email address may be used to communicate to Conn Clark
 provided it is not being used for advertisement purposes, unless
 prior written consent is given. This email address may not be 
 sold under any circumstances. All other rights reserved.

RE: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[Christopher Hoover]

Here's the patch against 2.5.18-rmk1. It applies cleanly to all kernels
since.

http://www.murgatroid.com/badge4/release/ch-release-2002-07-14/src/kerne
l-patches/linux-2.5.18-rmk1-mtd-intel-varsize.patch

-ch


> -----Original Message-----
> From: root@esteem.com [mailto:root@esteem.com] On Behalf Of Conn Clark
> Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2002 11:42 AM
> To: Christopher Hoover
> Cc: MTD Mailing List
> Subject: Re: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition 
> so it is writeable?
> 
> 
> Christopher Hoover wrote:
> > 
> > At one point locking and unlocking flash with variable-sized blocks
> > (such as Intel C3 flash) simply didn't work.  I fixed it -- 
> the correct
> > code is in CVS and in current 2.4 (after some release I cannot
> > remember), but the changes unfortunately aren't in 2.5.
> > 
> > Check drivers/mtd/chips/cfi_cmdset_0001.c in your sources.  
>  You should
> > see a changelog entry from me dated 02/05/2002; if you 
> don't see it, you
> > don't have the fix.
> > 
> > -ch
> > ch@murgatroid.com
> > ch@hpl.hp.com
> 
> I don't have it. Can I just drop it in or are there other 
> files I need to
> get/update? I haven't used CVS before so I will need help 
> doing that if thats
> the best way of getting all relevant files. 
> 
> Thanks
> 
> 	Conn
> -- 
> 
> *****************************************************************
>   If you live at home long enough, your parents will move out.
>  (Warning they may try to sell their house out from under you.)
> *****************************************************************
> 
> Conn Clark
> Engineering Stooge				clark@esteem.com
> Electronic Systems Technology Inc.		www.esteem.com
> 
> Stock Ticker Symbol				ELST
> 
> "clark@esteem.com" Copyright 2000 By Electronic Systems Technology
>  This email address may be used to communicate to Conn Clark
>  provided it is not being used for advertisement purposes, unless
>  prior written consent is given. This email address may not be 
>  sold under any circumstances. All other rights reserved.
> 

Re: Re: How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?

[Jörn Engel]

On Mon, 19 August 2002 17:01:17 -0700, Conn Clark wrote:
> Jörn Engel wrote:
> > On Mon, 19 August 2002 10:34:23 -0700, Conn Clark wrote:
> > >       How does one mount an existing jffs2 partition so it is writeable?
> > > After a reboot I can mount my jffs2 and read from it, but not write to it
> > > I can erase it first and mount it then read and write to it , but then I
> > > lose my info on it which defeats the whole reason for having it.
> > 
> > 1) Append "rw" to kernel command line.
> > 2) mount / -o remount,rw
> 
> 	Didn't work, I get the same message. Did I do it right?
> 
> [/gpig]# cd ..
> [/]# mount /gpig -o remount,rw
> [/]# cd gpig
> [/gpig]# cp ../bin/MAKEDEV .                                                    
> Write of 68 bytes at 0x00059a28 failed. returned 0, retlen 0
> Not marking the space at 0x00059a28 as dirty because the flash driver returned r
> etlen zero
> cp: ./MAKEDEV: Input/output error
> [/gpig]# 

Maybe. If the locking hint from Christopher doesn't work either, we
need more information:
- Number, size and type of flash chips
- output from mount
- kernel version plus applied patches
- ...

Without knowing whether /gpid is the mounted partition in question or
not, my best answer is maybe. :)

Jörn

-- 
The competent programmer is fully aware of the strictly limited size of
his own skull; therefore he approaches the programming task in full
humility, and among other things he avoids clever tricks like the plague. 
-- Edsger W. Dijkstra