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Groups > linux.debian.user > #206108 > unrolled thread

mkfs problem

Started byPierre Frenkiel <pierre.frenkiel@gmail.com>
First post2019-03-10 17:10 +0100
Last post2019-03-11 00:00 +0100
Articles 12 — 3 participants

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  mkfs problem Pierre Frenkiel <pierre.frenkiel@gmail.com> - 2019-03-10 17:10 +0100
    Re: mkfs problem Reco <recoverym4n@enotuniq.net> - 2019-03-10 17:40 +0100
      Re: mkfs problem Pierre Frenkiel <pierre.frenkiel@gmail.com> - 2019-03-10 19:50 +0100
    Re: mkfs problem Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2019-03-10 18:30 +0100
      Re: mkfs problem Pierre Frenkiel <pierre.frenkiel@gmail.com> - 2019-03-10 19:50 +0100
    Re: mkfs problem (half resolved) Pierre Frenkiel <pierre.frenkiel@gmail.com> - 2019-03-10 18:40 +0100
      Re: mkfs problem (half resolved) Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2019-03-10 19:10 +0100
        Re: mkfs problem (half resolved) Pierre Frenkiel <pierre.frenkiel@gmail.com> - 2019-03-10 20:00 +0100
          Re: mkfs problem (half resolved) Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2019-03-10 20:40 +0100
            Re: mkfs problem (half resolved) Pierre Frenkiel <pierre.frenkiel@gmail.com> - 2019-03-10 22:00 +0100
              Re: mkfs problem (half resolved) Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2019-03-10 23:50 +0100
                Re: mkfs problem (half resolved) Pierre Frenkiel <pierre.frenkiel@gmail.com> - 2019-03-11 00:00 +0100

#206108 — mkfs problem

FromPierre Frenkiel <pierre.frenkiel@gmail.com>
Date2019-03-10 17:10 +0100
Subjectmkfs problem
Message-ID<xA9bs-4zE-13@gated-at.bofh.it>
hi,
I'm trying to fromat a nes USB flash drive and I get this:

==> mount | grep sdh

==> mkfs.vfat /dev/sdh1
     mkfs.fat 4.1 (2017-01-24)
     mkfs.vfat: /dev/sdh1 contains a mounted filesystem.

==> mkfs /dev/sdh1
     works

any explanation?

best regards,
-- 
Pierre Frenkiel

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#206111

FromReco <recoverym4n@enotuniq.net>
Date2019-03-10 17:40 +0100
Message-ID<xA9Eu-4JX-9@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#206108
	Hi.

On Sun, Mar 10, 2019 at 05:01:34PM +0100, Pierre Frenkiel wrote:
> hi,
> I'm trying to fromat a nes USB flash drive and I get this:
> 
> ==> mount | grep sdh
> 
> ==> mkfs.vfat /dev/sdh1
>     mkfs.fat 4.1 (2017-01-24)
>     mkfs.vfat: /dev/sdh1 contains a mounted filesystem.
> 
> ==> mkfs /dev/sdh1
>     works
> 
> any explanation?

/sbin/mkfs calls a different binary, /sbin/mkfs.ext2.
Different utility does different checks.

Reco

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#206123

FromPierre Frenkiel <pierre.frenkiel@gmail.com>
Date2019-03-10 19:50 +0100
Message-ID<xAbGi-5Zi-23@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#206111
On Sun, 10 Mar 2019, Reco wrote:

> 	Hi.
>
> On Sun, Mar 10, 2019 at 05:01:34PM +0100, Pierre Frenkiel wrote:
>> hi,
>> I'm trying to format a new USB flash drive and I get this:
>>
>> ==> mount | grep sdh
>>
>> ==> mkfs.vfat /dev/sdh1
>>     mkfs.fat 4.1 (2017-01-24)
>>     mkfs.vfat: /dev/sdh1 contains a mounted filesystem.
>>
>> ==> mkfs /dev/sdh1
>>     works
>>
>> any explanation?
>
> /sbin/mkfs calls a different binary, /sbin/mkfs.ext2.
> Different utility does different checks.

   of course, but how do  you explain that one of them think that it is mounted?
   As /dev/sdh1 was in /etc/mtab, it seems that mkfs.vfat uses mtab, and not
   mkfs.ext2!
   rather strange,isn't it?

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#206116

FromPascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org>
Date2019-03-10 18:30 +0100
Message-ID<xAaqR-5h6-5@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#206108
Le 10/03/2019 à 17:01, Pierre Frenkiel a écrit :
> hi,
> I'm trying to fromat a nes USB flash drive and I get this:
> 
> ==> mount | grep sdh
> 
> ==> mkfs.vfat /dev/sdh1
>      mkfs.fat 4.1 (2017-01-24)
>      mkfs.vfat: /dev/sdh1 contains a mounted filesystem.
> 
> ==> mkfs /dev/sdh1
>      works

You should not format (and more generally write directly to) a block 
device which contains a mounted filesystem.

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#206121

FromPierre Frenkiel <pierre.frenkiel@gmail.com>
Date2019-03-10 19:50 +0100
Message-ID<xAbGh-5Zi-7@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#206116

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On Sun, 10 Mar 2019, Pascal Hambourg wrote:

> Le 10/03/2019 à 17:01, Pierre Frenkiel a écrit :
>> hi,
>> I'm trying to format a new USB flash drive and I get this:
>> 
>> ==> mount | grep sdh
>> 
>> ==> mkfs.vfat /dev/sdh1
>>      mkfs.fat 4.1 (2017-01-24)
>>      mkfs.vfat: /dev/sdh1 contains a mounted filesystem.
>> 
>> ==> mkfs /dev/sdh1
>>      works
>
> You should not format (and more generally write directly to) a block device 
> which contains a mounted filesystem.
>
   not only should not, but you can't ...
   as I said previously, the flash drive was not actually mounted
   (mtab not updated)

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#206117 — Re: mkfs problem (half resolved)

FromPierre Frenkiel <pierre.frenkiel@gmail.com>
Date2019-03-10 18:40 +0100
SubjectRe: mkfs problem (half resolved)
Message-ID<xAaAx-5kF-1@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#206108
On Sun, 10 Mar 2019, Pierre Frenkiel wrote:

> hi,
> I'm trying to format a new USB flash drive and I get this:
>
> ==> mount | grep sdh
>
> ==> mkfs.vfat /dev/sdh1
>    mkfs.fat 4.1 (2017-01-24)
>    mkfs.vfat: /dev/sdh1 contains a mounted filesystem.
>
> ==> mkfs /dev/sdh1
>    works
>
I said half-resolved, as I found a line with /dev/sdh1 in /etc/mtab.
Removing it solved the problem, but remains the question:
   why /etc/mtab was not updated?

best regards,
-- 
Pierre Frenkiel

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#206119 — Re: mkfs problem (half resolved)

FromPascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org>
Date2019-03-10 19:10 +0100
SubjectRe: mkfs problem (half resolved)
Message-ID<xAb3A-5KU-29@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#206117
Le 10/03/2019 à 18:36, Pierre Frenkiel a écrit :
>>
> I said half-resolved, as I found a line with /dev/sdh1 in /etc/mtab.
> Removing it solved the problem, but remains the question:
>    why /etc/mtab was not updated?

What kind of system are you using ?

In current versions of Debian, /etc/mtab should be a symlink to 
/proc/mounts. As anything in /proc, this not a real file but an 
interface with the kernel. It should always be up to date and userland 
should not be able to write it.

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#206124 — Re: mkfs problem (half resolved)

FromPierre Frenkiel <pierre.frenkiel@gmail.com>
Date2019-03-10 20:00 +0100
SubjectRe: mkfs problem (half resolved)
Message-ID<xAbPX-62R-3@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#206119

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On Sun, 10 Mar 2019, Pascal Hambourg wrote:

> Le 10/03/2019 à 18:36, Pierre Frenkiel a écrit :
>>> 
>> I said half-resolved, as I found a line with /dev/sdh1 in /etc/mtab.
>> Removing it solved the problem, but remains the question:
>>    why /etc/mtab was not updated?
>
> What kind of system are you using ?

   Debian Stretch
>
> In current versions of Debian, /etc/mtab should be a symlink to /proc/mounts.

   on my laptop, mtab is actually a link to ../proc/self/mounts
   but on my desktop, it is a file, God knows why.

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#206127 — Re: mkfs problem (half resolved)

FromPascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org>
Date2019-03-10 20:40 +0100
SubjectRe: mkfs problem (half resolved)
Message-ID<xAcsF-6ws-13@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#206124
Le 10/03/2019 à 19:50, Pierre Frenkiel a écrit :
> On Sun, 10 Mar 2019, Pascal Hambourg wrote:
>>
>> What kind of system are you using ?
> 
>    Debian Stretch
>>
>> In current versions of Debian, /etc/mtab should be a symlink to 
>> /proc/mounts.
> 
>    on my laptop, mtab is actually a link to ../proc/self/mounts

/proc/mounts is actually a symlink to /proc/self/mounts.

>    but on my desktop, it is a file, God knows why.

Was your desktop initially installed with a rather older Debian version 
and upgraded ?

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#206137 — Re: mkfs problem (half resolved)

FromPierre Frenkiel <pierre.frenkiel@gmail.com>
Date2019-03-10 22:00 +0100
SubjectRe: mkfs problem (half resolved)
Message-ID<xAdI6-7fp-11@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#206127

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On Sun, 10 Mar 2019, Pascal Hambourg wrote:

> Le 10/03/2019 à 19:50, Pierre Frenkiel a écrit :
>> On Sun, 10 Mar 2019, Pascal Hambourg wrote:
>>> 
>>> What kind of system are you using ?
>>
>>    Debian Stretch
>>> 
>>> In current versions of Debian, /etc/mtab should be a symlink to 
>>> /proc/mounts.
>>
>>    on my laptop, mtab is actually a link to ../proc/self/mounts
>
> /proc/mounts is actually a symlink to /proc/self/mounts.
>
>>    but on my desktop, it is a file, God knows why.
>
> Was your desktop initially installed with a rather older Debian version and 
> upgraded ?
>
   it has been installed with Lenny, which is now an old version, but was
   at that time the current one...
   and then upgrade to Squeeze, Wheezy, Jessie and Stretch

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#206139 — Re: mkfs problem (half resolved)

FromPascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org>
Date2019-03-10 23:50 +0100
SubjectRe: mkfs problem (half resolved)
Message-ID<xAfqx-8nw-3@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#206137
Le 10/03/2019 à 21:58, Pierre Frenkiel a écrit :
> On Sun, 10 Mar 2019, Pascal Hambourg wrote:
> 
>> Le 10/03/2019 à 19:50, Pierre Frenkiel a écrit :
>>> On Sun, 10 Mar 2019, Pascal Hambourg wrote:
>>>>
>>>> In current versions of Debian, /etc/mtab should be a symlink to 
>>>> /proc/mounts.
>>>
>>>    on my laptop, mtab is actually a link to ../proc/self/mounts
>>
>> /proc/mounts is actually a symlink to /proc/self/mounts.
>>
>>>    but on my desktop, it is a file, God knows why.
>>
>> Was your desktop initially installed with a rather older Debian 
>> version and upgraded ?
>>
>    it has been installed with Lenny, which is now an old version, but was
>    at that time the current one...
>    and then upgrade to Squeeze, Wheezy, Jessie and Stretch

I do not remember which version installed /etc/mtab as a symlink, but 
during the upgrade from the previous version it was offered to replace 
the regular file with a symlink. Maybe you answered "no" and /etc/mtab 
remained a regular file. Well, you can still replace it by hand now.

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#206140 — Re: mkfs problem (half resolved)

FromPierre Frenkiel <pierre.frenkiel@gmail.com>
Date2019-03-11 00:00 +0100
SubjectRe: mkfs problem (half resolved)
Message-ID<xAfAd-8r4-5@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#206139

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On Sun, 10 Mar 2019, Pascal Hambourg wrote:

> Le 10/03/2019 à 21:58, Pierre Frenkiel a écrit :
>> On Sun, 10 Mar 2019, Pascal Hambourg wrote:
>> 
>>> Le 10/03/2019 à 19:50, Pierre Frenkiel a écrit :
>>>> On Sun, 10 Mar 2019, Pascal Hambourg wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> In current versions of Debian, /etc/mtab should be a symlink to 
>>>>> /proc/mounts.
>>>> 
>>>>    on my laptop, mtab is actually a link to ../proc/self/mounts
>>> 
>>> /proc/mounts is actually a symlink to /proc/self/mounts.
>>> 
>>>>    but on my desktop, it is a file, God knows why.
>>> 
>>> Was your desktop initially installed with a rather older Debian version and 
>>> upgraded ?
>>>
>>    it has been installed with Lenny, which is now an old version, but was
>>    at that time the current one...
>>    and then upgrade to Squeeze, Wheezy, Jessie and Stretch
>
> I do not remember which version installed /etc/mtab as a symlink, but during 
> the upgrade from the previous version it was offered to replace the regular 
> file with a symlink. Maybe you answered "no" and /etc/mtab remained a regular 
> file. Well, you can still replace it by hand now.

   I don't remember such a question, but that's actually what I did.

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