[PRJ] apps2sd discussion

[shanksv]

With this setup of ext2 in the external SD everything seems to be working fine. I will set it back again where ext2 is in the internal card and try it again tomorow. Off to bed now, day job gets in the way of all this fun But here is the result of your latest request. I will try and get all this again tomorrow for you with ext2 in the internal card if nobody has done it by then

# busybox df -h
busybox df -h
Filesystem Size Used Available Use% Mounted on
tmpfs 207.6M 16.0K 207.5M 0% /dev
tmpfs 4.0M 0 4.0M 0% /sqlite_stmt_journals
/dev/block/mtdblock1 160.0M 146.7M 13.3M 92% /system
/dev/block/mtdblock6 175.0M 10.9M 164.1M 6% /data
/dev/block/mtdblock5 94.8M 6.8M 88.0M 7% /cache
/dev/block//vold/179:17
7.5G 2.9G 4.6G 39% /sdcard
/dev/block/vold/179:2
1019.1M 145.2M 822.2M 15% /system/sd
/dev/block/vold/179:2
1019.1M 145.2M 822.2M 15% /data/app
/dev/block/vold/179:2
1019.1M 145.2M 822.2M 15% /data/data
/dev/block/vold/179:2
1019.1M 145.2M 822.2M 15% /data/dalvik-cache
/dev/block//vold/179:1
13.8G 185.9M 13.6G 1% /sdcard2
#

 

[pvella]

Can we get the output for busybox df -h when the apps2sd configuration is on the internal card? We probably need this before and after the reboot. I know this is a pain, but it is hard for us to replicate or test this problem without actually having an internal sdcard.

 

[pedro_]

A quick question or two

I note that you move the dalvik cache to sd card, how big does the cache get ?

will the tablet boot if the cache is unavailable, for example if someone removes and loses their sd card ?

 

[pedro_]

and a further thought

is ext2 a good choice for formatting an sd card, would it not be better to format the card as yaffs2 ?

yaffs2 is designed for use on memory cards and handles card deterioration better than ext2

 

[ivyvisors]

yaffs is more for nand flash, which doesn't like normal file systems, as it will deteriorate over time faster than the flash used in an sdcard.

Nand type flash is used in a lot of embedded devices =)

~Ivy

 

[ivyvisors]

hi pedro, as the directories are there in the /data/ partition, the device will boot.

~Ivy

 

[50cals]

Thanks for everyones hard work on this, great job.

Is this 100% good to go? or still some tweaking to do?

 

[ivyvisors]

I might write some new directions, with some minor corrections tonight when home from work. I might be able to write a script which will set up things automatically.

There may be issues with devices with the internal sd card. But as mine doesn't have the internal card, I can't test for this.

~Ivy

 

[shanksv]

OK as guessed it is the way the cards being mounted that is an issue. If both cards are installed the internal card is mounted as 179:17 and the external as 179:1. If I reboot with just the internal it is mounted as 179:1 and then when I insert the external it (the external) becomes 179:17. But as soon as I reboot external bcomes 179:1 and internal 179:17

After I partition the internal card to ext2, if I leave the external card mounted and try to configure ext2 the command "busybox mke2fs /dev/block/vold/179:2" gives me a "no such file or directory"

So for now per the current set of instructions only internal works fine, ext2 on the external works fine, and sounds like only external like on Ivy's device works fine. So to the guru's out there we need to figure out how to get both going. Hope this helps you guys Ivy and pvella

Hope I made sense to you guys.

 

[ivyvisors]

Thanks Shanksv,

I might be able to modify the scripts to detect if the second sd card is in. Unfortunately testing this is a little difficult as I don't have the tablet with the built in card.

~ivy

 

[pvella]

The problem is that we will need to adjust the dynamic device behaviour of the s7. I imagine this is only possible at the kernel level, so it will require a mod. In the meantime, we have a solution, but you have to always have an external card inserted, and never boot up without an sdcard inserted. You can then use the internal card.

 

[shanksv]

ivy, I can do the testing of the script for you. pvella, I agree I would rather have the ext2 in the internal card and always have an external card inserted so that way we have the flexibility of using multiple external cards.

 

[shanksv]

I created a partition on my internal 8GB card and installed everything onto 179:18 and changed the script and all is good. As long as I boot the system with an external card I am good. I will do some more testing and report later.

 

[pvella]

Thanks for testing that. We have a working solution for now. Nice work everyone. Been using mine for a week without any issues.

 

[shanksv]

Well, have tested it for a few hours now with the Internal Card partioned and apps2sd in there and all is good. Rebooted the device multiple times, swapped external SD cards, and everything is working as expected. So the bottom line as of now is....

If you have only an external card like some S7's have follow ivy/pvella's procedure.

If you have 2 cards (internal and external) and are planning to only use the internal card follow ivy/pvella's procedures. Actually you just need to remember not to reboot your system with an external card installed. External cards can be inserted after a reboot and all works as expected.

If you have 2 cards and have partioned the external card, follow ivy/pvella's procedure. Remember to always have that card in when you reboot, if not you will loose everything. You probably will loose everything even if you swap cards.

If you have 2 cards and have partioned the internal card, follow ivy/pvella's procedure but change the 179:2 values to 179:18 in the 2 steps listed and in the script file provided that you load. Remember to always have an external card in when you reboot. External cards can be swapped with no negative effect.

Hope it is all as clear as mud now