Memory Technology Device: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Type of device file in Linux for interacting with flash memory}}

[[File:Flash-EEPROM.jpg|thumb|150px|Flash-[[EEPROM]] in a Router - real MTD]]

{{primary sources|date=December 2013}}

'''Memory technology devices''' (MTD) are a new type of [[device file system#Devices|device file]] in [[Linux]] for interacting with [[flash memory]], similar to [[Flash Translation Layer]]. The MTD subsystem was created to provide an [[abstraction layer]] between the hardware-specific device drivers and higher-level applications. Although character and block device files already existed, their semantics don't map well to the way that flash memory devices operate.

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[[File:FlashMacronix MX29LV320ATTC-EEPROM70G 20110908.jpg|thumb|150px|Flash-[[EEPROM]] in a Router -– a realtrue MTD]]

[[USB stick]]s, [[MultiMediaCard|MMC]]s, [[Secure Digital|SD]]s, [[CompactFlash]]es and other popular removable devices should not be confused with MTDs. Although they contain flash memory, this is hidden behind a [[block device]] interface.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.linux-mtd.infradead.org/doc/general.html#L_overview | title=Memory Technology Device Overview | accessdate=1 September 2012}}</ref>

A '''Memory technologyTechnology devicesDevice''' (MTD) areis a new type of [[deviceDevice file system#Devices|device file]] in [[Linux]] for interacting with [[flash memory]], similar to [[Flash Translation Layer]]. The MTD subsystem was created to provide an [[abstraction layer]] between the hardware-specific device drivers and higher-level applications. Although character and block device files already existed, their semantics don't map well to the way that flash memory devices operate.

[[USB stick]]s, [[MultiMediaCard|MMC]]s, [[Secure Digital|SD]]s, [[CompactFlash]]es and other popular removable devices shouldare not be confused with MTDs. Although they contain flash memory, this is hidden behind a [[block device]] interface using a [[Flash Translation Layer]] and not directly interfacing with the kernel.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.linux-mtd.infradead.org/doc/general.html#L_overview | title=Memory Technology Device Overview | accessdate=1 September 2012}}</ref>

== External links ==

* http://www.linux-mtd.infradead.org

When using an MTD, the use of an MTD aware file system such as [[UBIFS]], [[JFFS2]] or [[YAFFS]] is recommended. The MTD subsystem exports block devices as well, which allows the use of common filesystem like ext4. However, using an MTD this way is not recommended since there is neither detection of bad blocks nor any kind of wear leveling.

MTDs don't address to the kernel like traditional storage devices ([[Solid State Drive]], [[Hard Disk Drive]]...) using [[Logical block addressing|LBA]]s, but rather using offsets and sizes.

==References==

<references/>

==Further reading==

* {{cite book|author=Christopher Hallinan|title=Embedded Linux Primer: A Practical Real-World Approach|year=2010|edition=2nd|publisher=Pearson Education|isbn=978-0-13-706110-5|___location=chapter 10}}

== External links ==

* http://www.linux-mtd.infradead.org

{{Linux kernel}}

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[[Category:Solid-state computer storage media]]

[[Category:Linux kernel features]]

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