Can Linux write to OS X harddrive?

ljr2600 · 09-10-2004, 09:40 PM

Pretty straight forward.

Can linux distros read and write OS X mounts?

MikeZila · 09-11-2004, 07:40 AM

I don't know very much about what filesystem OSX uses, but seeing as how its based on Unix, I don't see why not. You should probably check on distro by distro basis, though.

Do know exactly what file system OSX uses?

Burpethead · 09-11-2004, 12:23 PM

OS X's file system has no base whatsoever on the UNIX filesystem. The Mac uses its own format called HFS+ (Hierarchy File System).

Linux in the past has had pretty sketchy support with HFS. Most of the time, if you can get a HFS drive to mount, it's only with read. The only Linux distro I know of that comes with built-in HFS support is Yellow Dog.

Some libraries for HFS on linux can be found here. Additionally, a 2.4 kernal patch is here.

Good luck!

ljr2600 · 09-11-2004, 12:50 PM

No I don't know the file system OS X uses. Part of the reason I was posting here.

carboncopy · 11-30-2004, 10:00 PM

Hmm. I have the same question.
I just got a new Firewire harddisk enclosure. And I would like to share the new one between my Slackware machine and iBook.

I want read and write access to hfs+ (journaled) filesystem which is native to Mac Os X. I know Mac Os X supports UFS as well. There are some kind of limitation to the support with Mac concerning UFS. (not as much tools)

I can mount hfs CDs on my Slackware machine. Wondering whether i can write to it. Hmm. Since I am going to wipe out the harddrive, may as well experiment with it.

EDITED:This post shouldn't be in Linux Hardware. Hmm.. Maybe it is time to set up Linux FileSystem forum.

MikeZila · 12-01-2004, 07:18 AM

hfs CD's? What are you talking about?

culturejam · 12-16-2004, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by carboncopy
Hmm. I have the same question.
I just got a new Firewire harddisk enclosure. And I would like to share the new one between my Slackware machine and iBook.

I want read and write access to hfs+ (journaled) filesystem which is native to Mac Os X. I know Mac Os X supports UFS as well. There are some kind of limitation to the support with Mac concerning UFS. (not as much tools)

I just had this come up last night. I bought an external USB2/IEEE1394 enclosure that I'm going to use with several different hard drives between a linux box and an iBook. After googling around for a while, I settled on installing Ext2 support in OS X. Check out the software here:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/ext2fsx
It says it supports Ext3 as well, but I haven't tried it. It does let you format drives in Ext2 from OS X, however, which I found particularly useful. If you want to share a drive between Linux and OS X, and you must have journaling, I think this is the best way to go.