How to choose right file system for your usb disk? Simple, not FAT32 or NTFS because AsusWRT routers using Linux which is not Windows best friend :)
For usb flash drives best choice is EXT2 (All AsusWRT routers)
For usb hdd Mipsel devices is EXT3 (RT-N16, RT-N66U, RT-AC66U and all other versions: /R /W)
For usb hdd ARM devices is EXT4 (RT-AC56U, RT-AC68U, RT-AC87U, RT-AC88U, RT-AC3200, RT-AC5300 and all other versions: /P /R /W)
Warning!!! Formatting the disk will destroy all existing data, please backup your files first, bigger disk capacity - longer time to format! :(
METHOD I - Directly from router
Plug usb device directly on router usb port.
To see how is mounted, type "mount" in teminal
rootfs on / type rootfs (rw)
/dev/root on / type squashfs (ro)
proc on /proc type proc (rw)
tmpfs on /tmp type tmpfs (rw)
devfs on /dev type tmpfs (rw,noatime)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw)
/dev/mtdblock5 on /jffs type jffs2 (rw,noatime)
usbfs on /proc/bus/usb type usbfs (rw)
/dev/sda1 on /tmp/mnt/sda1 type ext2 (rw,nodev,noatime,data=ordered)
nfsd on /proc/fs/nfsd type nfsd (rw)
admin@RT-AC66U:/tmp/home/root#
Usb disk is mounted as /dev/sda1
Format the disk to ext2, ext3 or ext4 (ext4 available only on arm routers)
If you get error:
Go to default router ip address 192.168.1.1 click on usb icon and Eject Usb Disk
Now try to format again
mke2fs 1.42.8 (20-Jun-2013)
Filesystem label=
OS type: Linux
Block size=4096 (log=2)
Fragment size=4096 (log=2)
Stride=0 blocks, Stripe width=0 blocks
123392 inodes, 493564 blocks
24678 blocks (5.00%) reserved for the super user
First data block=0
Maximum filesystem blocks=507510784
16 block groups
32768 blocks per group, 32768 fragments per group
7712 inodes per group
Superblock backups stored on blocks:
32768, 98304, 163840, 229376, 294912Allocating group tables: done
Writing inode tables: done
Creating journal (8192 blocks): done
Writing superblocks and filesystem accounting information: done
admin@RT-AC66U:/tmp/home/root#
Reboot router or replug usb disk, then check if is mounted
rootfs on / type rootfs (rw)
/dev/root on / type squashfs (ro)
proc on /proc type proc (rw)
tmpfs on /tmp type tmpfs (rw)
devfs on /dev type tmpfs (rw,noatime)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw)
/dev/mtdblock5 on /jffs type jffs2 (rw,noatime)
usbfs on /proc/bus/usb type usbfs (rw)
/dev/sda1 on /tmp/mnt/sda1 type ext3 (rw,nodev,noatime,data=ordered)
nfsd on /proc/fs/nfsd type nfsd (rw)
admin@RT-AC66U:/tmp/home/root#
If you want to label the disk, use this command
To delete the label
In both cases you have to reboot, replug the disk or type next command
ls -l /tmp/mnt
Now the disk is labeled as desired_label :) and ready to install Entware or Optware
To check disk for errors use this command
e2fsck 1.42.8 (20-Jun-2013)
Pass 1: Checking inodes, blocks, and sizes
Pass 2: Checking directory structure
Pass 3: Checking directory connectivity
Pass 4: Checking reference counts
Pass 5: Checking group summary information 102505 inodes used (0.34%, out of 30523392)
1271 non-contiguous files (1.2%)
89 non-contiguous directories (0.1%)
# of inodes with ind/dind/tind blocks: 9018/369/7
47900728 blocks used (39.23%, out of 122088192)
0 bad blocks
15 large files 78500 regular files
8597 directories
0 character device files
0 block device files
0 fifos
334 links
15394 symbolic links (15110 fast symbolic links)
5 sockets
------------
102830 files
admin@RT-AC56U:/tmp/home/root#
METHOD II - From Windows OS
A - Download and install EaseUS Partition Master Free Edition
Plug usb drive in your pc usb port.
Open EaseUS Partition Master and with right click select desired disk
Click Format partition and select desired file system, EXT2 for example
Click Apply and Yes
Wait until disk is formatted then remove it from pc and plug to router usb port.
B - Download and install MiniTool Partition Wizard
Plug usb drive in your pc usb port.
Open MiniTool Partition Wizard and with right click select desired disk/partition
Click Format partition and select desired file system, EXT4 for example
Click OK and Apply
...
The disk is ready now to install Entware or Optware
METHOD III- From Linux Ubuntu
only if requested by user...
