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NAME

       mkfs.fat - create an MS-DOS filesystem under Linux

SYNOPSIS

       mkfs.fat  [-a]  [-A] [-b sector-of-backup] [-c] [-l filename] [-C] [-f number-of-FATs] [-F
       FAT-size] [-h number-of-hidden-sectors] [-i volume-id] [-I] [-m message-file] [-n  volume-
       name]  [-r  root-dir-entries] [-R number-of-reserved-sectors] [-s sectors-per-cluster] [-S
       logical-sector-size] [-D drive-number] [-M FAT-media-type] [-v] device [block-count]

DESCRIPTION

       mkfs.fat is used to create an MS-DOS filesystem under Linux on a device  (usually  a  disk
       partition). device is the special file corresponding to the device (e.g /dev/sdXX). block-
       count is the number of blocks on the device. If omitted, mkfs.fat automatically determines
       the filesystem size.

OPTIONS

       -a  Normally,  for any filesystem except very small ones, mkfs.fat will align all the data
           structures to cluster size, to make sure that as long as  the  partition  is  properly
           aligned,  so  will  all  the  data  structures in the filesystem. This option disables
           alignment; this may provide a handful of additional clusters of storage at the expense
           of  a  significant  performance degradation on RAIDs, flash media or large-sector hard
           disks.

        -A Use Atari variation of the MS-DOS filesystem. This is default if mkfs.fat is run on an
           Atari,  then this option turns off Atari format. There are some differences when using
           Atari format: If not directed otherwise by  the  user,  mkfs.fat  will  always  use  2
           sectors  per  cluster,  since GEMDOS doesn't like other values very much. It will also
           obey the maximum number of sectors GEMDOS can handle. Larger filesystems  are  managed
           by  raising  the  logical  sector size. Under Atari format, an Atari-compatible serial
           number for the filesystem is generated, and a 12 bit FAT is used only for  filesystems
           that  have  one  of  the  usual  floppy sizes (720k, 1.2M, 1.44M, 2.88M), a 16 bit FAT
           otherwise. This can be overridden with the -F option.  Some  PC-specific  boot  sector
           fields aren't written, and a boot message (option -m) is ignored.

       -b sector-of-backup
           Selects the location of the backup boot sector for FAT32. Default depends on number of
           reserved sectors, but usually is sector 6. The backup must  be  within  the  range  of
           reserved sectors.

       -c  Check the device for bad blocks before creating the filesystem.

       -C  Create  the  file  given  as  device  on the command line, and write the to-be-created
           filesystem to it. This can be used to create the new filesystem in a file  instead  of
           on  a  real  device,  and to avoid using dd in advance to create a file of appropriate
           size. With this option, the block-count must be given, because otherwise the  intended
           size  of  the  filesystem  wouldn't be known. The file created is a sparse file, which
           actually only contains the meta-data areas (boot sector, FATs,  and  root  directory).
           The data portions won't be stored on the disk, but the file nevertheless will have the
           correct size. The resulting file can be copied later to a floppy disk or other device,
           or mounted through a loop device.

       -D drive-number
           Specify  the  BIOS  drive  number  to  be stored in the FAT boot sector. This value is
           usually 0x80 for hard disks and 0x00 for floppy devices or partitions to be  used  for
           floppy emulation.

       -f number-of-FATs
           Specify  the  number  of  file  allocation tables in the filesystem. The default is 2.
           Currently the Linux MS-DOS filesystem does not support more than 2 FATs.

       -F FAT-size
           Specifies the type of file allocation tables used (12, 16 or 32 bit).  If  nothing  is
           specified, mkfs.fat will automatically select between 12, 16 and 32 bit, whatever fits
           better for the filesystem size.

       -h number-of-hidden-sectors
           Select the number of hidden sectors in the volume. Apparently some digital cameras get
           indigestion if you feed them a CF card without such hidden sectors, this option allows
           you to satisfy them.

       -i volume-id
           Sets the volume ID of the newly created filesystem; volume-id is a 32-bit  hexadecimal
           number  (for  example,  2e24ec82).  The  default  is  a  number  which  depends on the
           filesystem creation time.

       -I  It is typical for fixed disk devices to be partitioned so, by  default,  you  are  not
           permitted  to create a filesystem across the entire device. mkfs.fat will complain and
           tell you that it refuses to work. This is different when using MO disks.  One  doesn't
           always  need partitions on MO disks. The filesystem can go directly to the whole disk.
           Under other OSes this is known as the 'superfloppy' format.  This  switch  will  force
           mkfs.fat to work properly.

       -l filename
           Read the bad blocks list from filename.

       -m message-file
           Sets  the message the user receives on attempts to boot this filesystem without having
           properly installed an operating system. The message file must  not  exceed  418  bytes
           once  line  feeds  have  been converted to carriage return-line feed combinations, and
           tabs have been expanded. If the filename is a hyphen  (-),  the  text  is  taken  from
           standard input.

       -M FAT-media-type
           Specify the media type to be stored in the FAT boot sector. This value is usually 0xF8
           for hard disks and has a value from 0xF9 to 0xFF for floppies or partitions to be used
           for floppy emulation.

       -n volume-name
           Sets  the  volume  name  (label)  of  the  filesystem. The volume name can be up to 11
           characters long. The default is no label.

       -r root-dir-entries
           Select the number of entries available in the root directory. The default  is  112  or
           224 for floppies and 512 for hard disks.

       -R number-of-reserved-sectors
           Select  the  number of reserved sectors. With FAT32 format at least 2 reserved sectors
           are needed, the default is 32. Otherwise the default is 1 (only the boot sector).

       -s sectors-per-cluster
           Specify the number of disk sectors per cluster. Must be a power of 2, i.e. 1, 2, 4, 8,
           ... 128.

       -S logical-sector-size
           Specify  the number of bytes per logical sector. Must be a power of 2 and greater than
           or equal to 512, i.e. 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16384, or 32768.

       -v  Verbose execution.

BUGS

       mkfs.fat can not create boot-able filesystems. This isn't as easy as you  might  think  at
       first  glance  for  various  reasons and has been discussed a lot already. mkfs.fat simply
       will not support it ;)

SEE ALSO

       fatlabel(8)
       fsck.fat(8)

HOMEPAGE

       More    information    about    fsck.fat    and    dosfstools    can    be    found     at
       <http://daniel-baumann.ch/software/dosfstools/>.

AUTHORS

       dosfstools  were  written by Werner Almesberger <werner.almesberger@lrc.di.epfl.ch>, Roman
       Hodek <Roman.Hodek@informatik.uni-erlangen.de>, and  others.  The  current  maintainer  is
       Daniel Baumann <mail@daniel-baumann.ch>.