kpartx(8) Create device maps from partition tables

SYNOPSIS

kpartx [-a | -d | -l] [-v] wholedisk

DESCRIPTION

This tool, derived from util-linux' partx, reads partition tables on specified device and create device maps over partitions segments detected. It is called from hotplug upon device maps creation and deletion.

OPTIONS

-a
Add partition mappings
-r
Read-only partition mappings
-d
Delete partition mappings
-u
Update partition mappings
-l
List partition mappings that would be added -a
-p
set device name-partition number delimiter
-f
force creation of mappings; overrides 'no_partitions' feature
-g
force GUID partition table (GPT)
-v
Operate verbosely
-s
Sync mode. Don't return until the partitions are created

EXAMPLE

To mount all the partitions in a raw disk image:
kpartx -av disk.img

This will output lines such as:

loop3p1 : 0 20964762 /dev/loop3 63

The loop3p1 is the name of a device file under /dev/mapper which you can use to access the partition, for example to fsck it:

fsck /dev/mapper/loop3p1

When you're done, you need to remove the devices:

kpartx -d disk.img

AUTHORS

This man page was assembled By Patrick Caulfield for the Debian project. From documentation provided by the multipath author Christophe Varoqui, <[email protected]> and others.