How to - Format and Partition External Storage Device

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Formatting and Partitioning USB Storage for DD-WRT

NOTE This Wiki applies only to USB capable devices. SD/MMC mods are NOT applicable in this Tutorial. There will be a separate page for that.

  • Introduction:

Due to the very nature of DD-WRT, its infrastructure, and the routers they support, one must use a Linux file format in order to take full advantage of the thousands of installable packages that allow for incredible user control and add excellent flexibility to the router.

Optware is a highly useful system, especially for those with routers capable of USB external storage support.

This page will illustrate, in the highest detail possible, how to correctly perform the steps required to Format and Partition your External storage device for use with Optware and other means.

If you own a USB capable router, there should be no excuse not to follow this guide as it will open up more doors than you can imagine!


Getting Started

If you are already a Linux OS user, great, as it will be slightly less of a procedure. For Windows users, there are several things you need to prepare before attempting this:


1. Download Ubuntu, which is a free, user friendly and disk bootable Linux distribution OS. You MUST have this to perform the following as Windows does not have the capability of formatting Linux filesystems.


2. Once downloaded (32bit or 64bit, it doesn't matter) you will need to burn the image to a CD-R using a program like Nero.


3. Once the operation is complete, re-insert the disk and reboot Windows. Once your computer reboots, the bootdisk will initialize and Ubuntu will start up. If it doesn't, you need to make sure your PC's BIOS settings dictate that the boot sequence starts with your CD-ROM drive as the first device.


4. Once Ubuntu loads, select your language and then on the following Menu select " Try Ubuntu without any changes to my PC" (should be default). Sit back and wait for it to load.


5. Once in Ubuntu, connect the drive you wish to Format and Partition. You should see an icon pop-up on the Desktop indicating that it's mounted.


6. Right-Click the drive icon and select "Unmount."


7. Navigate to System -> Administration -> GParted and let it search for devices. In the upper right, click the drop-down menu and select your drive you wish to format.


8. Now you will need to prepare the drive and format/partition it. The following images illustrate the procedure:


Image:Initial.jpg



Image:Optware.jpg



Image:Swapfile.jpg



Image:JFFS.jpg



Image:Data.jpg



Image:Apply.jpg



Image:Finished.jpg