Hacking Can the same SD card be used for Linux and normal use?

[Sayora]

Every guide seems to imply this is the case, but I haven't seen it explicitly stated. If I need to get another what would a recommended size be? Sorry if this is a stupid question, I just want to have definitive answer before I buy another SD card.

 

[DarkMatterCore]

Yes, it can definitely be done.

I use a 32 GB SanDisk micro SD card. Before starting the process, I created a backup of the "Nintendo" directory in the SD card. Then, I manually created a 16 GB FAT32 partition and dedicated the rest of the free space for the EXT4 partition. After finishing copying the Linux rootfs to the EXT4 partition, I copied the "Nintendo" directory back to the FAT32 partition. It works like a charm.

TL;DR: Just create a bigger FAT32 partition and you should be good to go.

 

[dubbz82]

Wait. Linux isn't normal use?

 

[Deleted User]

Yes

 

[Sayora]

Does the first partition have to be fat32 or can it be exfat?

 

[DarkMatterCore]

Does the first partition have to be fat32 or can it be exfat?

I haven't had the chance to test exFAT partitions, but it shouldn't be a problem as long as your Switch is on 5.0.X.

 

[Sayora]

You need 5.0 for exfat? My switch is on 4.1 and exfat has worked fine for normal use.

 

[DarkMatterCore]

You need 5.0 for exfat? My switch is on 4.1 and exfat has worked fine for normal use.

Weird. I could have sworn exFAT compatibility got added on 5.0.0. Well, just go ahead and try.

 

[noahc3]

[sorry forgot what thread i was in]

 

[DarkMatterCore]

Switch firmware added support for it in 5.0, but F0Fs linux kernel uses a custom driver for the SD reader which has exFAT support. What the Switch OS supports is irrelevant.

That doesn't make sense. I was referring to the ability of the Horizon OS to use exFAT on the first micro SD partition, not Linux. I know F0F's kernel has a custom driver; otherwise, the second EXT4 partition wouldn't even work in the first place. But that only takes effect when Linux is ran through RCM.

 

[Thatcher]

That doesn't make sense. I was referring to the ability of the Horizon OS to use exFAT on the first micro SD partition, not Linux. I know F0F's kernel has a custom driver; otherwise, the second EXT4 partition wouldn't even work in the first place. But that only takes effect when Linux is ran through RCM.

From what I understand the Switch can use exFat so long as you've triggered the update for it (unsure which FW version added support). This is done by inserting a 64GB or higher card in the switch, you're then prompted to update the Switch but this will also update you to the latest FW

I'm currently on 4.0.1 and my 200GB card prompted me for the SD card update but I'm hoping homebrew get around this by using partitions i.e Fat32 for official and a larger exFat for homebrew like you said.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Weird. I could have sworn exFAT compatibility got added on 5.0.0. Well, just go ahead and try.

Maybe it's now built in to the regular updates, but support has been there since the beginning as a separate update. Upon inserting an exFAT formatted card for the first time you would be prompted to install the update for it.

 

[DarkMatterCore]

Maybe it's now built in to the regular updates, but support has been there since the beginning as a separate update. Upon inserting an exFAT formatted card for the first time you would be prompted to install the update for it.

That explains it. Thanks. I got my Switch when 5.0.0 was already around and I updated my console right away, so I didn't have the chance to tinker a bit more with lower firmwares.

 

[Sayora]

Well from my basic testing, it seems exfat cannot be used to boot linux with the current methods.

 

[DarkMatterCore]

Well from my basic testing, it seems exfat cannot be used to boot linux with the current methods.

Which partition layout are you using? exFAT + EXT4?

Also, you should be using the MBR partition style instead of GPT.