From mboxrd@z Thu Jan  1 00:00:00 1970
From: erik quanstrom <quanstro@quanstro.net>
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:07:15 -0400
To: 9fans@9fans.net
Message-ID: <9f9b050f2270db9c9b9307b24913080e@brasstown.quanstro.net>
In-Reply-To: <515199E1.7070606@gmx.de>
References: <515199E1.7070606@gmx.de>
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Subject: Re: [9fans] Root file system from usb-hdd on raspberry pi
Topicbox-Message-UUID: 365b09ac-ead8-11e9-9d60-3106f5b1d025

On Tue Mar 26 08:52:50 EDT 2013, f.psiorz@gmx.de wrote:
> I'm currently trying to set up a usb-hdd as my root filesystem; I found
> out, that I have to use partfs to actually see the partitions I create,
> however they don't show up after the next reboot; i have to use fdisk's
> and prep's w command (without actualy modifying the partition table), to
> see the partitions I created in the file system. Is that normal?

that is normal.  but, there is no need to fdisk your disk unless you're
booting from dos.  you can use prep directly.  for fdisk+prep the
normal way to do this would be
	disk/fdisk /dev/sdXX/data>/dev/sdXX/ctl
	test -f /dev/sdXX/plan9 && disk/prep /dev/sdXX/plan9>/dev/sdXX/ctl
if you have prep only, only this would be needed
	disk/prep /dev/sdXX/plan9>/dev/sdXX/ctl
this is prepackaged in /rc/bin/diskparts, and the kernel will do
this for you on boot.

> Also, I don't yet quite understand how to boot from such a partition.
> Somehow I need to get partfs into the kernel; but I don't know how, and
> after that, how to use it for booting form the external hdd.

you need to build partfs into your kernel.  add
	/arm/bin/disk/partfs
to the bootdir section of your kernel configuration file and rebuild.
in the rpi's case, i believe the kernel config is named /sys/src/9/bcm/pi
or picpu.

- erik