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Today an article on how to install SmartFileSystem on Amiga OS 3.9. There is also a part on migration to SFS for the one who want their entire OS hard drive booting directly in SFS.
Contents
Why ?
- FFS is “Fast File System”
- SFS is “Smart File System”
With FFS :
I’ve been more than once in front of the problem of partition validating for ages in cause of a crash when some writing was going. This is not so annoying when it is a FD that is 880Kb big, but when it is a 3Gb partition…
As I have backups of my files, what I did was to reformat the partition each time, and copy back the files (faster then waiting for the revalidation!).
Other problem is the speed of this filesystem.
Last minute note : to avoid long validation, you can use the tool “disksafe”, that you can find on aminet.
With SFS :
the speed is better, there is no revalidation, and the defragmentation is included “on the go”, and you have a better Large HD support.
AROS : will access the partitions natively in a more robust way than with FFS.
And I’ve made absolutely all the possible errors, so I want to share my experience.
COUNCILS
Note 2018 03 09 : After experimenting a lot, you should keep the first partition in FFS to be able to share your files with your linux system, like in those two articles :
Install Amiga OS 3.1 for your real Amiga (1200) using FS-UAE on linux ubuntu
access amiga FFS Hard Drive (or CF) under ubuntu
Don’t forget : each time you change a parameter inside HDInstTools, please, press “ENTER”. If you don’t, the entry won’t be validated.
Before a change on a partition can be taken in account, you must *reboot* your system.
Note 2018 03 09 : After experimenting a lot, you should keep the first partition in FFS to be able to share your files with your linux system, and use “disksafe” from aminet for a safer FFS use
SOME USEFULL SOFTWARES
- HDInsttools : http://aminet.net/package/disk/misc/hdinst
- FixHDDSIZE : http://aminet.net/package/disk/misc/fixhddsize
- For a safer use of FFS, use the tool DISKSAFE from Aminet : http://aminet.net/package/disk/salv/DiskSafe
Summary
- get SFS
- get HDInstTools
- Install the filesystem on the boot block to enable it at boot
- copy your system to the new drive
- install nSDPatch to your new OS installation
- get all your partitions working
Partitions parameters summary
- File System = custom,
- DOSType = SFS\0
- Mask = 0x7fffffffE (there are 6 “f”),
- MaxTransfer = 0x0001fe00,
- block size = 512 bytes
- buffers = 100
It is CRUCIAL to respect those parameters.
The hardware
I do not use WinUAE or this kind of (very usefull and handy) tools to do the transfer. I’m on a single amiga 1200.
Note 2018 03 10 : it has changed now, i use FS-UAE under linux a lot a lot now, it simplifies the life so much 🙂
To be able to go from a filesystem to the other, I bought a 2 CF card to IDE reader :
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_082827.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_082827-jpg-768x1024.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_090238.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_090238-jpg-768x1024.jpeg)
Get SFS from Aminet
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_082858.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_082858-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_082959.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_082959-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_083022.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_083022-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_083143.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_083143-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_083157.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_083157-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
Get HDInstTools from aminet and install SFS
Because it is a better tool than hdtoolbox for this.
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_100835.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_100835-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_101456.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_101456-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_101510.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_101510-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_101536.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_101536-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_101544.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_101544-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
Note 2018 03 10 : After many experimentations, my advice is to keep the fist partition (under 2Gb) in FFS to make the share with linux possible. So here : do not delete FFS, just ADD smartfilesystem
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_101557.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_101557-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_101628.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_101628-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
Partition your drive:
after saving the modifications to the card (you have to get out of HDInstTools and then restart the amiga)
when done, you open again HDInstTools and enter inside your device.
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170222_084857.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170222_084857-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170222_084916.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170222_084916-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
Note 2018 03 10 : After many experimentations, my advice is to keep the fist partition (under 2Gb) in FFS to make the share with linux possible. So here : let the first partition in FFS. Change only the second partition to SFS.
Partitions parameters summary
- File System = custom,
- DOSType = SFS\0
- Mask = 0x7fffffffE (there are 6 “f”),
- MaxTransfer = 0x0001fe00,
- block size = 512 bytes
- buffers = 100
It is very important to respect those parameters.
Save and you restart your computer.
Formating the first partition
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_105011.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_105011-jpg-768x1024.jpeg)
Note 2018 03 10 : SFSFormat command is a “quick format” one. You can also use the “Format” option of Amiga OS 3.9 if you want a complete format.
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_085720.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_085720-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170221_090213.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170221_090213-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170222_085009.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170222_085009-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
Copy your Amiga OS Files to the fresh new SFS partition
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170222_085107.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170222_085107-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
You should now be able to reboot with your new partition.
LARGE HD SUPPORT
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170222_085309.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170222_085309-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170222_085403.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170222_085403-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170222_085536.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170222_085536-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170222_085608.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170222_085608-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170222_090139.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170222_090139-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170222_091410.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170222_091410-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170222_093234.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170222_093234-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170222_132231.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170222_132231-jpg-768x1024.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170222_132406.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170222_132406-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170222_132420.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170222_132420-jpg-1024x768.jpeg)
![/Users/jess/Desktop/SFS/IMG_20170222_132445.jpg](http://amiga.thewetmachine.net/wp-content/uploads/users-jess-desktop-sfs-img_20170222_132445-jpg-768x1024.jpeg)
SAFER FFS USE
Last update 2018 03 10
As your first partition should be kept in FFS to help sharing with linux, you should use DISKSAFE for a safer FFS use.
RESOURCES
- NSDPatch je sèche … “Activation DH1: failed” (FR) Merci aux poto sur amigaimpact qui m’ont aidé à résoudre mon problème… bête car j’avais simplement pas appuyé sur entrée en paramétrant ma partition.
- http://obligement.free.fr/articles/sfs.php
- http://aminet.net/package/disk/misc/SFS
- A video (not by me) :