[EXPANDSD] Join your external SD with internal SD! - Galaxy S II Original Android Development

WARN: For developer only.
attachment is the EXPANDSD script.
Why use it?
So many applications use /sdcard for mass data storage(gameloft, navigation...),
but I9100's internal_sd size is limit to 11G, so we need external_sd's space.
But these applications dosen't know how to use external_sd, old method is hack the apk for external_sd, but this will change apk's signature, and need smali/baksmali to work. My method work in system level, don't need change any apk file.
How to use:
1.make expandsd.ownhere dirctory in external_sd root directory.
2.move internal_sd's directory(for example:/gameloft) to expandsd.ownhere
3.run init_expandsd.sh
Theory：
use 'mount --bind' feature, bind external_sd's dir to internal_sd.
Because the sd card using fat32 partition format, the 'ln -s' command does not work, so the "mount --bind" is the only way to dynamically change the directory content.

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Hi mate,
Thks for your shares. I have a question. How run init_expandsd.sh?

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I tried gscript and init.d, but doesn't seem to be working

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woohoo a great dev has come. glad you got here mate! love your work on Desire section.

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harrynghiem said:
Hi mate,
Thks for your shares. I have a question. How run init_expandsd.sh?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can try to use terminal emu, just type su then navigate to folder where the script located, then type sh init_expandsd.sh then enter. this might do the trick to execute .sh

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dexterdave said:
you can try to use terminal emu, just type su then navigate to folder where the script located, then type sh init_expandsd.sh then enter. this might do the trick to execute .sh
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it work for you?

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It's a great idea thanks a lot for your work. I was wondering why ln was not working.
But too bad it does not work for me, i get the following error :
[1] Segmentation fault
Do you have any idea why ?
Thanks again

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problems when connecting phone to pc
hi,
tried the "mount --bind" in order to try your script.
works fine. the directory contents is shared between the 2 path's,
but i have a problem when i connect the phone to a pc.
when i try to disconnect, the sdcard and external_sd are not
available anymore until i reboot the phone
note: the commands that i have executed are:
Code:
mkdir /mnt/sdcard/external_sd/foo
echo "test" > /mnt/sdcard/external_sd/foo/test
mkdir /mnt/sdcard/foo
mount --bind /mnt/sdcard/external_sd/foo /mnt/sdcard/foo

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Can this script be placed in init.d folder for autorun at boot?
Edit: sorry, already answered above: no, it cannot.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using Tapatalk

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Seems abandoned by @ownhere
Sent from my GT-I9100

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Idan73 said:
Seems abandoned by @ownhere
Sent from my GT-I9100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
too bad, it could be very useful..

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TheFirstBen said:
It's a great idea thanks a lot for your work. I was wondering why ln was not working.
But too bad it does not work for me, i get the following error :
[1] Segmentation fault
Do you have any idea why ?
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
got the same problem please help

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How to use?

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ownhere said:
WARN: For developer only.
attachment is the EXPANDSD script.
Why use it?
So many applications use /sdcard for mass data storage(gameloft, navigation...),
but I9100's internal_sd size is limit to 11G, so we need external_sd's space.
But these applications dosen't know how to use external_sd, old method is hack the apk for external_sd, but this will change apk's signature, and need smali/baksmali to work. My method work in system level, don't need change any apk file.
How to use:
1.make expandsd.ownhere dirctory in external_sd root directory.
2.move internal_sd's directory(for example:/gameloft) to expandsd.ownhere
3.run init_expandsd.sh
Theory：
use 'mount --bind' feature, bind external_sd's dir to internal_sd.
Because the sd card using fat32 partition format, the 'ln -s' command does not work, so the "mount --bind" is the only way to dynamically change the directory content.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks,
this is genius
I'm not using your script (have myself some ux & scripting skills) but did not know about the -bind option on android
Ridiculously simple and efficient
Did it my own way and it works great
Thanks a lot for this

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dawabz94 said:
thanks,
this is genius
I'm not using your script (have myself some ux & scripting skills) but did not know about the -bind option on android
Ridiculously simple and efficient
Did it my own way and it works great
Thanks a lot for this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then why not share with us please !
Let us know how you did

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Yes I'd like to know another method also.!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA

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Chairmansaab said:
Then why not share with us please !
Let us know how you did
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
it's very easy indeed, once you got the point.
I do most of my stuff using an "adb shell" session so I'll post here my steps to get it working.
Also I like simple implementation so my script is the strict minimum needed to mount necessary folders
I assume you have a rooted device with working busybox and a kernel that supports /etc/init.d/
I suggest you do the test on a dummy folder before applying on a real folder.
So start by creating a folder called /sdcard/dummy
Do it the way you want , I do it with an "adb shell" session
Code:
cd /sdcard
mkdir dummy
Then copy some files in it (photos for examples)
Code:
cd /sdcard
cd DCIM
cd Camera
cp `ls -1 |tail -5` /sdcard/dummy
From now on, we consider we want to move transparently /sdcard/dummy to the external SD
1. move the folder to the external sd
CAUTION : I'm running a CM9 rom => my external sd is mounted on /mnt/emmc
Standard samsung sdcard mount is /sdcard/external_sd
The path might be different according to your brand and rom
Moving the folder code
Code:
cd /sdcard
mv dummy /mnt/emmc/
2. Create the mount point in the indernal SD
Code:
cd /sdcard
mkdir dummy
3.a Check the mount is successful by manually doing it
Code:
mount --bind /mnt/emmc/dummy /sdcard/dummy
3.b Check you see exactly the same thing on both folders
Both commands should return exactly the same output
Code:
ls -l /sdcard/dummy
Code:
ls -l /mnt/emmc/dummy
If everything is fine, then you're good to go
4. Automate mount at boot time
Create a script in /etc/init.d to automate the mount at boot time
I personally use "vi" but most people prefer graphical UIs, I can't recommend any here, do it your own way
So basically you would go root,remount /system in read/write mode and create the file
Code:
su
mount -o remount,rw /dev/block/mmcblk0p9 /system
cd /etc/init.d
vi 90binds
Insert following lines, save and exit
Note that the "sleep 60" is to let the system boot up before mounting partitions (thanks to the initial script shared here)
Code:
#!/system/bin/sh
sleep 60
mount --bind /mnt/emmc/dummy /sdcard/dummy
Change owner and permissions, flush disk cache and remount /system in read only
Code:
su
mount -o remount,rw /dev/block/mmcblk0p9 /system
cd /etc/init.d
chown root:shell
chmod 6755 90binds
sync
mount -o remount,ro /dev/block/mmcblk0p9 /system
To check, run
Code:
su
cd /etc/init.d
ls -l 90binds
The output should look like this :
Code:
-rwsr-sr-x 1 root shell [I]0 MMM D HH:MM[/I] 90binds
5. Now you can reboot and check - after reboot - that the mount is done
Both commands should return exactly the same output (always ran in an "adb shell" session)
Code:
ls -l /sdcard/dummy
Code:
ls -l /mnt/emmc/dummy
6. Now you're good to move other folders
Basically, you move the folder to external SD
Create the mount point on the internal SD
Append the mount command in the 90binds script
And that's it
Hope this helps
---------- Post added at 11:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:04 AM ----------
benc88 said:
Yes I'd like to know another method also.!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just posted
Take time to read and understand the idea