This is a QuickReadMe I had prepared during my efforts to make linux read NTFS. Hope it'll be of some use in LQ.
1. Check the kernel version of your distribution
[root@localhost downloads]# uname -a
Red Hat 9 - Linux localhost.localdomain 2.4.20-31.9
#1 Tue Apr 13
18:04:23 EDT 2004 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
Here, the kernel is '2.4.20-31.9'.
2. Download the RPM for the corresponding kenel.
Here, it'll be 'kernel-ntfs-2.4.20-31.9.i686.rpm'.
3. Install the RPM
[root@localhost downloads]# rpm -ivh
kernel-ntfs-2.4.20-31.9.i686.rpm
Preparing...
####################################### [100%]
1:kernel-ntfs
######################################## [100
The Linux NTFS RPM has been successfully installed.
Please read the NTFS FAQ if you want to know how to:
* Mount an NTFS partition
* Change the permissions/ownership of a mounted NTFS
partition
* Automatically mount an NTFS partition
4. Insert the installed RPM into the kernel
[root@localhost downloads]# /sbin/modprobe ntfs
[root@localhost downloads]#
If the command exits successfully, no message(s) will
be displayed.
5. Verify the filesystem supported by the kernel now
[root@localhost downloads]# cat /proc/filesystems
....
....
..
.
nodev usbdevfs
nodev usbfs
nodev autofs
nodev binfmt_misc
ntfs
As seen from the above list, 'ntfs' is displayed
among the supported filesystems.
6. To check the version of the NTFS Driver
If your kernel version is 2.4.*, or 2.5.0 - 2.5.10,
then you probably
have the Original NTFS Driver. If you have 2.5.11 or
later, then you have got the New NTFS Driver.
A better test is to look through the kernel logs for
the NTFS log message.
Try either of these commands (you may need to be root
to read the logs).
[root@localhost downloads]# grep -i ntfs
/var/log/messages
Nov 22 19:03:57 localhost kernel: NTFS driver v1.1.22
[Flags: R/O MODULE]
Nov 23 12:17:25 localhost kernel: NTFS driver v1.1.22
[Flags: R/O MODULE]
Nov 23 12:56:51 localhost kernel: NTFS driver v1.1.22
[Flags: R/O MODULE]
OR
[root@localhost downloads]# dmesg | grep -i ntfs
NTFS driver v1.1.22 [Flags: R/O MODULE]
NTFS driver v1.1.22 [Flags: R/O MODULE]
The Original Driver is version 1.1.*, whereas the New
Driver is version 2.*.
7. To display the partitions
[root@localhost /]# fdisk -l
Disk /dev/hda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 1275 10241406 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda2 1276 9728 67898722+ f Win95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hda5 1276 3825 20482843+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda6 3826 6374 20474811 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda7 6375 6425 409626 83 Linux
/dev/hda8 6426 6527 819283+ 82 Linux swap
/dev/hda9 6528 9728 25712001 83 Linux
8. To mount an NTFS Volume
It might be a good idea to check that your kernel
understands NTFS. See Step 5.
Next you need to create a place to mount the NTFS
Volume. Then you can mount it.
[root@localhost downloads]# mkdir /mnt/windows
[root@localhost downloads]# mount /dev/hda1
/mnt/windows -t ntfs -r
[root@localhost downloads]# cd /mnt/windows/
9. To mount an NTFS Volumes automatically
You can mount the volume automatically by adding a
line to /etc/fstab (filesystem table).
Below are some example mount commands and their
equivalent fstab.
NB Don’t worry about the meaning of the 0 0 on the
end.
mount /dev/hda1 /mnt/windows -t ntfs -r
/dev/hda1 /mnt/windows ntfs ro 0 0
10.To unmount the Volumes
When you have finished, you can unmount the partition
with either of:
[root@localhost /]# umount /mnt/windows/
OR
[root@localhost /]# umount /dev/hda1
Reference:
----------
www.linux-ntfs.org
FAQ:
http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/info/ntfs.html
RPM:
http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/rpm/index.html
SRC: ttp://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/rpm/rpmsrc.html
