Create a file system

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Introduction

This is a simple HOWTO about file systems creation on linux.

Note: the authors of this article cannot be considered responsible of any data loss, hardware deterioration or any other problem related to this article.

In console

To create a file system you just have to use mkfs:

# mkfs -t vfat /dev/<your_device>

As mkfs is just a unified front-end for the different mkfs scripts you need to install the packages providing these scripts.

e2fsprogs contains:

  • mkfs.ext2
  • mkfs.ext3
  • mkfs.ext4
  • mkfs.ext4dev

dosfstools provides:

  • mkfs.vfat
  • mkfs.msdos

ntfsprogs provides:

  • mkfs.ntfs

jfsutils contains:

  • mkfs.jfs

xfsprogs provides:

  • mkfs.xfs

reiserfsprogs contains:

  • mkfs.reiserfs

Using GUI tools

See Format a device using GUI tools.

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