HFS + Journaled file system External HD not compatible w/Linux ?

[Sweet Spot]

I formatted an external HD yesterday with my Macbook Pro to the HFS + Journaled file system, because I plan on using it as a media server for the Mac. I was about to copy my music directory from kubuntu to it, but it won't grant me access and I'm wondering if it's because of compatibility issues ? If this is so, I'm pretty sure that Ext 2 or 3 should work, so then my next question would be : What is the command to reformat my external drive to either of those formats ?

Doug

[devils casper]

Ubuntu supports HFS+ pretty well. I am not sure if it allows write access too.
Execute sudo fdisk -l command and note down partition names ( /dev/sdb1, sdb2 ) of External disk. Create a mount point ( folder ) for each HFS+ partition.

Let say partition name is /dev/sdb1. Execute this

sudo fdisk -l
sudo mkdir /dev/sdb1
sudo mount -t hfsplus  /dev/sdb1  /media/sdb1
ls /media/sdb1

In case you have any confusion, post the output of sudo fdisk -l command here.

* Its small L in fdisk -l command.

[Sweet Spot]

Ok, so the output was:

Disk /dev/sdd: 163.9 GB, 163928604672 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19929 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdd1 1 19930 160086496+ af Unknown

Using your example, I should :

sudo fdisk -l
sudo mkdir /dev/sdd1
sudo mount -t hfsplus  /dev/sdd1  /media/sdd1
ls /media/sdd1

Correct ? Or is it just sdd without the "1" ? Oh, and thanks so much DC, you're always patient and a great help.

doug

[devils casper]

You are Welcome !
It should be /dev/sdd1 only.

[Sweet Spot]

Cool beans. Going to try it right after I'm finished ripping/encoding a CD. You'll probably see a new thread/post from me in a few asking about LAME encoding settings. !

[Sweet Spot]

Something didn't go right in doing this just now. Here's the output:

Disk /dev/sda: 640.1 GB, 640135028736 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0009b467

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1       77825   625129281    5  Extended
/dev/sda5           76854       77825     7807590   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6               1        2432    19534945+  83  Linux
/dev/sda7            2433       76852   597778618+  83  Linux

Partition table entries are not in disk order

Disk /dev/sdb: 163.9 GB, 163928604672 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19929 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1               1       19930   160086496+  af  Unknown
**********n@*****:~$ sudo mkdir /dev/sdb1
mkdir: cannot create directory `/dev/sdb1': File exists
m*********@*****:~$ sudo mount -t hfsplus /dev/sdb1
Usage: mount -V                 : print version
       mount -h                 : print this help
       mount                    : list mounted filesystems
       mount -l                 : idem, including volume labels
So far the informational part. Next the mounting.
The command is `mount [-t fstype] something somewhere'.
Details found in /etc/fstab may be omitted.
       mount -a [-t|-O] ...     : mount all stuff from /etc/fstab
       mount device             : mount device at the known place
       mount directory          : mount known device here
       mount -t type dev dir    : ordinary mount command
Note that one does not really mount a device, one mounts
a filesystem (of the given type) found on the device.
One can also mount an already visible directory tree elsewhere:
       mount --bind olddir newdir
or move a subtree:
       mount --move olddir newdir
One can change the type of mount containing the directory dir:
       mount --make-shared dir
       mount --make-slave dir
       mount --make-private dir
       mount --make-unbindable dir
One can change the type of all the mounts in a mount subtree
containing the directory dir:
       mount --make-rshared dir
       mount --make-rslave dir
       mount --make-rprivate dir
       mount --make-runbindable dir
A device can be given by name, say /dev/hda1 or /dev/cdrom,
or by label, using  -L label  or by uuid, using  -U uuid .
Other options: [-nfFrsvw] [-o options] [-p passwdfd].
For many more details, say  man 8 mount .
**********@****:~$ ls /media/sdb1
ls: cannot access /media/sdb1: No such file or directory
*******@*****:~$

Any clue ? When I try and copy/paste folders and files onto the drive, it says I can't create folders there.

Doug

[devils casper]

It was my mistake ! Sorry !
Execute this

sudo mkdir /media/sdb1
sudo  mount   -t    hfsplus    /dev/sdb1   /media/sdb1
ls /media/sdb1

[Sweet Spot]

Hmm. I don't think this is a mounting issue, per-say. It says it's already mounted, but I just can't write to the disk.

dev/sdb1 1 19930 160086496+ af Unknown
**@**:~$ sudo mkdir /media/sdb1
**n@**:~$ sudo mount -t hfsplus /dev/sdb1 /media/sdb1
mount: /dev/sdb1 already mounted or /media/sdb1 busy
mount: according to mtab, /dev/sdb1 is mounted on /media/Untitled
**@**:~$ ls /media/sdb1
**@**:~$

Might I be better off just trying to reformat the drive ? I feel this would save time. Though I am curious to know why this wouldn't be working. I thought that when I was in OS X, that disk utility formatted (upon erasing) the drive using HFS+ Journaled, I mean.. it did take 2 hours or so !

Doug

[devils casper]

Its already mounted at /media/Untitled folder. cd to that folder and try to create files in it.

cd /media/Untitled
ls
touch file1

I am not sure if Linux supports HFS+ write access.

[Sweet Spot]

Ah Ha. You are indeed correct sir. Says can not touch. Read only file system. Ok, that in mind, OS X is able to read ext2 and ext3, correct ? How should I go about formatting this drive in that case ? Thanks for all of your help (again) btw.

doug