mkntfs

mkntfs [ options ] device

-c, --cluster-size BYTES
    Specifies the cluster size in bytes. This is the smallest unit of disk space that can be allocated to a file. Common values are 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16384, 32768, 65536. A larger cluster size reduces fragmentation but wastes space for small files.

-L, --label VOLUME_LABEL
    Sets the volume label for the new NTFS filesystem. The label can be up to 32 characters long and may contain spaces.

-f, --fast
    Performs a fast format. This skips checking the device for bad sectors and is significantly quicker than a full format. This option is equivalent to -Q or --quick.

-F, --force
    Forces mkntfs to run even if the specified device is mounted, part of a software RAID, or contains an existing filesystem that is not NTFS. Use with extreme caution as it can lead to data loss.

-n, --no-action
    Test mode. Performs all operations except actually writing to the device. Useful for dry runs to see what would happen without making any changes.

-q, --quiet
    Suppresses most output from mkntfs, showing only critical errors. Useful for scripting.

-v, --verbose
    Increases the verbosity of output, providing more detailed information about the formatting process.

-S, --sector-size BYTES
    Specifies the sector size of the device in bytes. This value must be a power of 2 and is typically 512 bytes or 4096 bytes for Advanced Format drives. Use only if you know the correct sector size for your device.

-U, --uuid
    Generates a new Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) for the filesystem. A UUID uniquely identifies the filesystem and is often used by system tools for mounting and identification.

-z, --zero
    Zeros out the entire device before creating the NTFS filesystem. This is a very slow operation but ensures that all previous data is irrecoverably overwritten. Useful for data sanitization.

The mkntfs command is a crucial utility from the ntfsprogs package, designed to create a new NTFS (New Technology File System) volume on a specified block device, such as a hard drive partition or a USB stick. NTFS is the primary filesystem used by Microsoft Windows, making mkntfs indispensable for Linux users who need to share or exchange data seamlessly with Windows systems.

When executed, mkntfs initializes the target device with the necessary NTFS structures, including the Master File Table (MFT), boot record, and other metadata. It allows users to define various filesystem parameters like volume label, cluster size, and sector size, which can impact performance and compatibility. By default, it performs a full format, checking for bad sectors, but also offers a "quick" format option for faster execution.

Proper use of mkntfs is vital for ensuring data integrity and interoperability. Incorrect usage, however, can lead to complete data loss on the target device, as it overwrites all existing data. It serves a similar purpose to mkfs.ext4 or mkfs.vfat but specifically for the NTFS format.

Using mkntfs is a destructive operation that will permanently erase all data on the target device. Always double-check the specified device to ensure you are formatting the correct partition or disk. Running mkntfs requires root privileges.

While mkntfs allows specifying parameters like sector size and cluster size, incorrect values can lead to poor performance or incompatibility issues, especially if they do not match the underlying physical characteristics of the storage device. Some older options, such as -H (heads) and -p (sectors per track), are largely ignored on modern Linux systems because disk geometry is handled differently by the kernel. This command is for creating new filesystems, not for repairing or resizing existing ones; for repairs, use ntfsfix.

To format a partition (e.g., /dev/sdb1) with a default NTFS filesystem:
sudo mkntfs /dev/sdb1

To format a partition with a specific volume label 'MyDataDisk' and a cluster size of 4KB:
sudo mkntfs -L MyDataDisk -c 4096 /dev/sdc2

To perform a quick format on a USB drive with a volume label 'USB_STICK':
sudo mkntfs -f -L USB_STICK /dev/sdd1

To perform a dry run (no changes made) for formatting /dev/sda3:
sudo mkntfs -n /dev/sda3

The mkntfs command is a component of the ntfsprogs project, which emerged from the efforts of reverse-engineering the Microsoft NTFS filesystem. This project aimed to provide robust and reliable tools for interacting with NTFS volumes on Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. Initially, Linux had limited support for NTFS, primarily read-only. The development of ntfsprogs and later the ntfs-3g driver was crucial in bringing full read/write capabilities, allowing seamless data exchange and interoperability between Linux and Windows environments. mkntfs specifically addresses the need to create compatible NTFS partitions directly from Linux, a fundamental requirement for users working in mixed operating system environments.

ntfs-3g(8), ntfsprogs(8), mkfs(8), mkfs.ext4(8), mkfs.vfat(8), ntfsfix(8), mount(8)