Kobo's filesystem organization

NiMa · 07-26-2020, 07:38 PM

Hi,
I was wondering where the Linux filesystem of the Kobo firmware is (/usr, /bin, /tmp, /root, etc.), because when I search the through Kobo eReader partition, I see nothing like that, even in hidden folders. Perhaps I've missed one? Also, I looked up with

Code:

fdisk -l

and

Code:

lsblk

in my terminal to see if there was an unmounted partition in the internal storage, but it seems that this one is the only one.
HOWEVER, when I was restoring my Glo HD's original firmware via a SD card image, I've seen three partitions:
1. recoveryfs
2. <Don't remember the name>
3. Kobo eReader
But after, when I configured the device and all, only the Kobo eReader partition was left.

To me, the Kobo firmware filesystem is a complete mistery that I'd like to solve.
Any ideas?

Thanks!

sherman · 07-26-2020, 08:15 PM

The rootfs is on a different partition from the user partition which is exposed to USB.

To explore it, you will need telnet or SSH access to the Kobo. Enabling telnet is easy. Just type 'devmodeon' in the search bar. This enables telnet (and FTP?). You can access developer options at home > settings > Device Information (it is an option at the very bottom).

Note, for telnet, you'll probably want to force Wifi on (it's a setting available in the afore mentioned developer settings menu).

If you want SSH and more, look at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=254214

Note, for telnet and SSH, username is root, with no password.

NiMa · 07-26-2020, 08:48 PM

Hi,
Thanks for the quick answer. I already explored the filesystem with telnet, but was highly intrigued by the /mnt/.onboard part of the filesystem, with seems to contain the normal "Kobo eReader" partition. What I found interesting, though, was that there was no other partition in the SD card than this one (fdisk, lsblk, diskutil). So I wonder: is the rootfs partition "generated" at each boot by some database, like "KoboReader.sqlite" or something like that? I'm puzzled.......

Thanks for the answer!

sherman · 07-26-2020, 09:18 PM

Nope, it's three partitions on the storage device. I can't check right at the moment, but I think you can see what's mounted from '/proc/mounts'

I think the partitions are the devices '/dev/mmcblkN'

NiMa · 07-26-2020, 09:24 PM

Hi,
Thanks for answering again. I think that maybe Kobo wants to prevent users from accessing the default rootfs filesystem over USB (standard connecting for transfer of books). However, when the SD card is removed and plugged in a computer, we can see all three partitions.
Don't know if this is explanation holds the reality, but it's maybe a possibility.
When you're able to grab one, you can let me know if you want, to see if you see all three partitions with USB or SD card plugged right into the computer.

Thanks!

sherman · 07-26-2020, 09:43 PM

Yeah, only /mnt/onboard is exported over USB. And when you think about it, it makes sense, because the partition has to be unmounted before exporting it.

NiMa · 07-26-2020, 10:00 PM

Yeah, thanks for confirming my thoughts.

Best regards

07-26-2020, 07:38 PM	#1
NiMa Fanatic Posts: 507 Karma: 2390534 Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Somewhere in the Universe Device: Kobo Libra, Glo HD, Touch C/B, Mini, Glo, Aura SE, Clara HD, KT	Kobo's filesystem organization Hi, I was wondering where the Linux filesystem of the Kobo firmware is (/usr, /bin, /tmp, /root, etc.), because when I search the through Kobo eReader partition, I see nothing like that, even in hidden folders. Perhaps I've missed one? Also, I looked up with Code: fdisk -l and Code: lsblk in my terminal to see if there was an unmounted partition in the internal storage, but it seems that this one is the only one. HOWEVER, when I was restoring my Glo HD's original firmware via a SD card image, I've seen three partitions: 1. recoveryfs 2. <Don't remember the name> 3. Kobo eReader But after, when I configured the device and all, only the Kobo eReader partition was left. To me, the Kobo firmware filesystem is a complete mistery that I'd like to solve. Any ideas? Thanks!

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07-26-2020, 08:15 PM	#2
sherman Guru Posts: 875 Karma: 2676800 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Taranaki - NZ Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Forma	The rootfs is on a different partition from the user partition which is exposed to USB. To explore it, you will need telnet or SSH access to the Kobo. Enabling telnet is easy. Just type 'devmodeon' in the search bar. This enables telnet (and FTP?). You can access developer options at home > settings > Device Information (it is an option at the very bottom). Note, for telnet, you'll probably want to force Wifi on (it's a setting available in the afore mentioned developer settings menu). If you want SSH and more, look at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=254214 Note, for telnet and SSH, username is root, with no password.

07-26-2020, 08:48 PM	#3
NiMa Fanatic Posts: 507 Karma: 2390534 Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Somewhere in the Universe Device: Kobo Libra, Glo HD, Touch C/B, Mini, Glo, Aura SE, Clara HD, KT	Hi, Thanks for the quick answer. I already explored the filesystem with telnet, but was highly intrigued by the /mnt/.onboard part of the filesystem, with seems to contain the normal "Kobo eReader" partition. What I found interesting, though, was that there was no other partition in the SD card than this one (fdisk, lsblk, diskutil). So I wonder: is the rootfs partition "generated" at each boot by some database, like "KoboReader.sqlite" or something like that? I'm puzzled....... Thanks for the answer!

07-26-2020, 09:18 PM	#4
sherman Guru Posts: 875 Karma: 2676800 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Taranaki - NZ Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Forma	Nope, it's three partitions on the storage device. I can't check right at the moment, but I think you can see what's mounted from '/proc/mounts' I think the partitions are the devices '/dev/mmcblkN'

07-26-2020, 09:24 PM	#5
NiMa Fanatic Posts: 507 Karma: 2390534 Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Somewhere in the Universe Device: Kobo Libra, Glo HD, Touch C/B, Mini, Glo, Aura SE, Clara HD, KT	Hi, Thanks for answering again. I think that maybe Kobo wants to prevent users from accessing the default rootfs filesystem over USB (standard connecting for transfer of books). However, when the SD card is removed and plugged in a computer, we can see all three partitions. Don't know if this is explanation holds the reality, but it's maybe a possibility. When you're able to grab one, you can let me know if you want, to see if you see all three partitions with USB or SD card plugged right into the computer. Thanks!

07-26-2020, 09:43 PM	#6
sherman Guru Posts: 875 Karma: 2676800 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Taranaki - NZ Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Forma	Yeah, only /mnt/onboard is exported over USB. And when you think about it, it makes sense, because the partition has to be unmounted before exporting it.

07-26-2020, 10:00 PM	#7
NiMa Fanatic Posts: 507 Karma: 2390534 Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Somewhere in the Universe Device: Kobo Libra, Glo HD, Touch C/B, Mini, Glo, Aura SE, Clara HD, KT	Yeah, thanks for confirming my thoughts. Best regards

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