Partitioning and Formatting an SD Card - 2023.2 English

PetaLinux Tools Documentation: Reference Guide (UG1144)

Document ID
UG1144
Release Date
2023-10-18
Version
2023.2 English

For partitioning and formatting an SD card, the following tools are required:

  • fdisk
  • mkfs

The steps and logs for partitioning are as follows:

  • sudo fdisk /dev/sdb
    Welcome to fdisk (util-linux 2.31.1).
    Changes will remain in memory only, until you decide to write them.
    Be careful before using the write command.
  • Command (m for help): n

    Partition type

    • p primary (0 primary, 0 extended, 4 free)
    • e extended (container for logical partitions)
  • Select (default p): p
    Partition number (1-4, default 1):
    First sector (2048-62333951, default 2048):
  • Last sector, +sectors or +size{K,M,G,T,P} (2048-62333951, default 62333951): 21111220

    Creates a new partition 1 of type 'Linux' and of size 10.1 GB. Partition #1 contains a vfat signature.

  • Do you want to remove the signature? [Y]es/[N]o: y

    The signature is removed by a write command.

  • Command (m for help): n

    Partition type

    • p primary (1 primary, 0 extended, 3 free)
    • e extended (container for logical partitions)
  • Select (default p): p
    Partition number (2-4, default 2):
    First sector (21111221-62333951, default 21112832):
    Last sector, +sectors or +size{K,M,G,T,P} (21112832-62333951, default 62333951):
    Created a new partition 2 of type 'Linux' and of size 19.7 GB.
  • Command (m for help): w
    The partition table has been altered.
    Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.
    Syncing disks.
    Steps and log for formatting:
  • sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sdb1

    mkfs.fat 4.1 (2017-01-24)

  • sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdb2
    mke2fs 1.44.1 (24-Mar-2018)
    Creating file system with 5152640 4k blocks and 1289280 inodes
    File system UUID: ad549f34-ee6e-4efc-ab03-fba390e98ede
    Superblock backups stored on blocks:
    32768, 98304, 163840, 229376, 294912, 819200, 884736, 1605632, 2654208, 4096000
    Allocating group tables: done
    Writing inode tables: done
    Creating journal (32768 blocks): done
    Writing superblocks and file system accounting information: done
  • SD EXT ROOTFS BOOT:
    Mount the fat partition and copy BOOT.BIN, boot.scr, Image, and system.dtb files on it.
    Mount the EXT partition and untar rootfs.tar.gz to it.
    Finally unmount the SD card and use it for booting.