How do you read from & write to the bootloader inode of an ext2 filesystem?

madanra · 08-10-2014, 05:44 AM

ext2 has a number of reserved inodes, such as inode 2 being the root directory. Inode 5 is reserved for a bootloader. AFAIK Linux doesn't actually use this, but I would like to know how you read from & write to that inode.

jefro · 08-11-2014, 02:36 PM

"5.3.5. EXT2_IMMUTABLE_FL - Immutable File

The blocks associated with the file will not be exchanged. If for any reason a file system defragmentation is launched, such files will not be moved. Mostly used for stage2 and stage1.5 boot loaders. "

So, writing a stage loader to it would write to it.

Also I'd assume the location is always a few bytes off partition edge. That area I forget exactly.

jefro · 08-11-2014, 02:38 PM

Some info http://uranus.chrysocome.net/explore2fs/es2fs.htm

So, writing a stage loader to it would write to it.

Also I'd assume the location is always a few bytes off partition edge. That area I forget exactly.