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| batocera.linux_architecture [2022/09/29 09:11] – [Using an alternative filesystem for userdata] joinski | batocera.linux_architecture [2025/08/22 13:40] (current) – SSH restriction on exFAT lbrpdx |
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| * **btrfs** is a newer option. If you have Windows machines, Batocera comes with the ''btrfs_for_windows'' driver on the boot partition to allow Windows machines to read a BTRFS userdata partition. This issue can be worked around [[:add_games_bios#while_batocera_is_running|if you have network access]]. No restriction when using BTRFS, except you can't read it natively with MacOS. Performs //slightly// slower than **ext4**, but is better at protecting corruption from files such as during a power cut mid-transfer. | * **btrfs** is a newer option. If you have Windows machines, Batocera comes with the ''btrfs_for_windows'' driver on the boot partition to allow Windows machines to read a BTRFS userdata partition. This issue can be worked around [[:add_games_bios#while_batocera_is_running|if you have network access]]. No restriction when using BTRFS, except you can't read it natively with MacOS. Performs //slightly// slower than **ext4**, but is better at protecting corruption from files such as during a power cut mid-transfer. |
| * **NTFS** is an OK option - Windows, MacOS and most Linux distributions can directly read NTFS just fine. Sophisticated systems (such as WINE for Windows applications, Steam, Cemu for Wii U, Future Pinball, Flatpak, etc.) may have issues when using this due to certain file attributes not being properly stored and no compatibility with symlinks when being read by Linux. Has no real file size restrictions (that you'd feasibly run into). | * **NTFS** is an OK option - Windows, MacOS and most Linux distributions can directly read NTFS just fine. Sophisticated systems (such as WINE for Windows applications, Steam, Cemu for Wii U, Future Pinball, Flatpak, etc.) may have issues when using this due to certain file attributes not being properly stored and no compatibility with symlinks when being read by Linux. Has no real file size restrictions (that you'd feasibly run into). |
| * **FAT32** and **extFAT** are //outdated filesystems//. Yes, they are well supported under most OS's (you bet, those filesystems are over forty years old!) but they have restrictions in terms of maximum file size (FAT32 cannot store files larger than 4GB, which most 6th gen and above console ROMs exceed) and the ability to support the exec bit required to run certain Linux applications. It will also limit the use of certain emulators and systems that rely on features like symbolic links or special character filename handling, neither of which are possible with FAT32 or exFAT. Amiga or Wine/Windows are popular systems that won't work well with these filesystems. However, these systems involve the least amount of writes when creating files, therefore would increase the longevity of short-lifespan storage such as USB flash drives. Although this becomes less an issue as flash storage lifespan improves over time of manufacture. | * **FAT32** and **extFAT** are //outdated filesystems//. Yes, they are well supported under most OS's (you bet, those filesystems are over forty years old!) but they have restrictions in terms of maximum file size (FAT32 cannot store files larger than 4GB, which most 6th gen and above console ROMs exceed) and the ability to support the exec bit or file permissions required to run certain Linux applications - for instance you won’t be able to log through SSH easily. It will also limit the use of certain emulators and systems that rely on features like symbolic links or special character filename handling, neither of which are possible with FAT32 or exFAT. Amiga or Wine/Windows are popular systems that won't work well with these filesystems. However, these systems involve the least amount of writes when creating files, therefore would increase the longevity of short-lifespan storage such as USB flash drives. Although this becomes less an issue as flash storage lifespan improves over time of manufacture. |
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| To summarize in a table: | To summarize in a table: |
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| If you're handy with formatting partitions, you can always format the partitions yourself and manually install Batocera. | If you're handy with formatting partitions, you can always format the partitions yourself and manually install Batocera. |
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| <wrap em>Be aware</wrap>: using any other filesystem for the userdata partition than default (ext4) could lead to issues (see above what is mentioned besides the filesystems (issues with WINE for example)). | |
| When you transfer files via MS Windows (if the drive with the user data partition is connected to a Windows computer directly) they can disappear and therefore not be available in Batocera (even using special programs/drivers like Paragon extFS for example are not 100% reliable in this regard). | |
| ===== Buildroot ===== | ===== Buildroot ===== |
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