mtoolstest

mtoolstest [-v] [-i]

-v
    Verbose output. Provides more detailed information about the tests being performed and their results, including internal checks.

-i
    Interactive mode. Pauses after each major test step, prompting the user to press Enter to continue. Useful for debugging and stepping through the tests.

mtoolstest tests the configuration of the mtools utilities. It checks various aspects, such as the accessibility of floppy drives, partitions, and image files defined in the mtools configuration file (typically /etc/mtools.conf or ~/.mtools). It also verifies the presence of necessary helper programs like mformat and mdel, and the mtools utilities' ability to recognize and interact with different filesystem types (like FAT12, FAT16, FAT32). This command helps users diagnose problems when mtools commands are not working as expected, providing detailed output about what succeeded and what failed during the tests.

• Requires the mtools package to be installed.


• Relies heavily on the mtools.conf file for configuration; incorrect configuration can lead to test failures.


• Some tests might require physical access to floppy drives or specific partition setups, which may not be available on all systems or virtual environments.


• May report false positives if the underlying device isn't truly accessible for writing, even if the test passes (e.g., due to complex permission issues not fully simulated).

mtoolstest primarily checks the following aspects:
1. Configuration file parsing: Verifies mtools.conf syntax and directives.
2. Device accessibility: Ensures floppy drives, disk images, or partitions are accessible.
3. Helper program availability: Confirms essential programs like mformat are found.
4. Filesystem interaction: Tries to create, read, and delete files on configured devices.
5. Permissions: Checks if mtools can perform necessary operations based on user permissions.

Users typically run mtoolstest when mtools commands like mcopy or mformat fail unexpectedly. The output of mtoolstest helps identify misconfigured devices, missing binaries, or permission issues, guiding the user towards a solution for their mtools setup problems.

The mtools package, including mtoolstest, has a long history, originating in the early days of Linux to provide seamless access to MS-DOS filesystems. It evolved significantly with various DOS/Windows FAT filesystem versions (FAT12, FAT16, FAT32) and different media types (floppies, hard disk partitions, disk images). mtoolstest was developed as a crucial diagnostic tool to ensure correct setup and operation across diverse system configurations and hardware.

mtools(1), mtools.conf(5), mformat(1), mcopy(1), mdir(1)