-d

Used with the -i option, specifies that data_source_device should be used when reading blocks not found in the ext2 imagefile. This includes data, directory, and indirect blocks.

-b

Forces the use of the given block size (in bytes) for the file system, rather than detecting the correct block size automati‐cally. (This option is rarely needed; it is used primarily when the file system is extremely badly damaged/corrupted.)

-s

Causes the file system superblock to be read from the given block number, instead of using the primary superblock (located atan offset of 1024 bytes from the beginning of the filesystem). If you specify the -s option, you must also provide the block‐size of the filesystem via the -b option. (This option is rarely needed; it is used primarily when the file system isextremely badly damaged/corrupted.)

-f

Causes debugfs to read in commands from cmd_file, and execute them. When debugfs is finished executing those commands, itwill exit.

-R

Causes debugfs to execute the single command request, and then exit.

-V

print the version number of debugfs and exit.

-z

Before overwriting a file system block, write the old contents of the block to an undo file. This undo file can be used withe2undo(8) to restore the old contents of the file system should something go wrong. If the empty string is passed as theundo_file argument, the undo file will be written to a file named debugfs-device.e2undo in the directory specified via theE2FSPROGS_UNDO_DIR environment variable.WARNING: The undo file cannot be used to recover from a power or system crash.SPECIFYING FILESMany debugfs commands take a filespec as an argument to specify an inode (as opposed to a pathname) in the filesystem which is cur‐rently opened by debugfs. The filespec argument may be specified in two forms. The first form is an inode number surrounded byangle brackets, e.g., <2>. The second form is a pathname; if the pathname is prefixed by a forward slash ('/'), then it is inter‐preted relative to the root of the filesystem which is currently opened by debugfs. If not, the pathname is interpreted relative tothe current working directory as maintained by debugfs. This may be modified by using the debugfs command cd.COMMANDSThis is a list of the commands which debugfs supports.blocks filespecPrint the blocks used by the inode filespec to stdout.bmap [ -a ] filespec logical_block [physical_block]Print or set the physical block number corresponding to the logical block number logical_block in the inode filespec. If the

-a

block_dump [-f filespec] block_numDump the filesystem block given by block_num in hex and ASCII format to the console. If the -f option is specified, the blocknumber is relative to the start of the given filespec.cat filespecDump the contents of the inode filespec to stdout.cd filespecChange the current working directory to filespec.chroot filespecChange the root directory to be the directory filespec.close [-a]Close the currently open file system. If the -a option is specified, write out any changes to the superblock and block groupdescriptors to all of the backup superblocks, not just to the master superblock.clri filespecClear the contents of the inode filespec.copy_inode source_inode destination_inodeCopy the contents of the inode structure in source_inode and use it to overwrite the inode structure at destination_inode.dirsearch filespec filenameSearch the directory filespec for filename.dirty [-clean]Mark the filesystem as dirty, so that the superblocks will be written on exit. Additionally, clear the superblock's validflag, or set it if -clean is specified.dump [-p] filespec out_fileDump the contents of the inode filespec to the output file out_file. If the -p option is given set the owner, group and per‐missions information on out_file to match filespec.dump_mmp [mmp_block]Display the multiple-mount protection (mmp) field values. If mmp_block is specified then verify and dump the MMP values fromthe given block number, otherwise use the s_mmp_block field in the superblock to locate and use the existing MMP block.dx_hash [-h hash_alg] [-s hash_seed] filenameCalculate the directory hash of filename. The hash algorithm specified with -h may be legacy, half_md4, or tea. The hashseed specified with -s must be in UUID format.dump_extents [-n] [-l] filespecDump the the extent tree of the inode filespec. The -n flag will cause dump_extents to only display the interior nodes in theextent tree. The -l flag will cause dump_extents to only display the leaf nodes in the extent tree.(Please note that the length and range of blocks for the last extent in an interior node is an estimate by the extents libraryfunctions, and is not stored in filesystem data structures. Hence, the values displayed may not necessarily by accurate anddoes not indicate a problem or corruption in the file system.)dump_unusedDump unused blocks which contain non-null bytes.ea_get [-f outfile]|[-xVC] [-r] filespec attr_nameRetrieve the value of the extended attribute attr_name in the file filespec and write it either to stdout or to outfile.ea_list filespecList the extended attributes associated with the file filespec to standard output.ea_set [-f infile] [-r] filespec attr_name attr_valueSet the value of the extended attribute attr_name in the file filespec to the string value attr_value or read it from infile.ea_rm filespec attr_names...Remove the extended attribute attr_name from the file filespec.expand_dir filespecExpand the directory filespec.fallocate filespec start_block [end_block]Allocate and map uninitialized blocks into filespec between logical block start_block and end_block, inclusive. If end_blockis not supplied, this function maps until it runs out of free disk blocks or the maximum file size is reached. Existing map‐pings are left alone.feature [fs_feature] [-fs_feature] ...Set or clear various filesystem features in the superblock. After setting or clearing any filesystem features that wererequested, print the current state of the filesystem feature set.filefrag [-dvr] filespecPrint the number of contiguous extents in filespec. If filespec is a directory and the -d option is not specified, filefragwill print the number of contiguous extents for each file in the directory. The -v option will cause filefrag print a tabularlisting of the contiguous extents in the file. The -r option will cause filefrag to do a recursive listing of the directory.find_free_block [count [goal]]Find the first count free blocks, starting from goal and allocate it. Also available as ffb.find_free_inode [dir [mode]]Find a free inode and allocate it. If present, dir specifies the inode number of the directory which the inode is to belocated. The second optional argument mode specifies the permissions of the new inode. (If the directory bit is set on themode, the allocation routine will function differently.) Also available as ffi.freeb block [count]Mark the block number block as not allocated. If the optional argument count is present, then count blocks starting at blocknumber block will be marked as not allocated.freefrag [-c chunk_kb]Report free space fragmentation on the currently open file system. If the -c option is specified then the filefrag commandwill print how many free chunks of size chunk_kb can be found in the file system. The chunk size must be a power of two andbe larger than the file system block size.freei filespec [num]Free the inode specified by filespec. If num is specified, also clear num-1 inodes after the specified inode.get_quota quota_type idDisplay quota information for given quota type (user, group, or project) and ID.help Print a list of commands understood by debugfs.htree_dump filespecDump the hash-indexed directory filespec, showing its tree structure.icheck block ...Print a listing of the inodes which use the one or more blocks specified on the command line.inode_dump filespecPrint the contents of the inode data structure in hex and ASCII format.imap filespecPrint the location of the inode data structure (in the inode table) of the inode filespec.init_filesys device blocksizeCreate an ext2 file system on device with device size blocksize. Note that this does not fully initialize all of the datastructures; to do this, use the mke2fs(8) program. This is just a call to the low-level library, which sets up the superblockand block descriptors.journal_closeClose the open journal.journal_open [-c] [-v ver] [-f ext_jnl]Opens the journal for reading and writing. Journal checksumming can be enabled by supplying -c; checksum formats 2 and 3 canbe selected with the -v option. An external journal can be loaded from ext_jnl.journal_runReplay all transactions in the open journal.journal_write [-b blocks] [-r revoke] [-c] fileWrite a transaction to the open journal. The list of blocks to write should be supplied as a comma-separated list in blocks;the blocks themselves should be readable from file. A list of blocks to revoke can be supplied as a comma-separated list inrevoke. By default, a commit record is written at the end; the -c switch writes an uncommitted transaction.kill_file filespecDeallocate the inode filespec and its blocks. Note that this does not remove any directory entries (if any) to this inode.See the rm(1) command if you wish to unlink a file.lcd directoryChange the current working directory of the debugfs process to directory on the native filesystem.list_quota quota_typeDisplay quota information for given quota type (user, group, or project).ln filespec dest_fileCreate a link named dest_file which is a hard link to filespec. Note this does not adjust the inode reference counts.logdump [-acsOS] [-b block] [-i filespec] [-f journal_file] [output_file]Dump the contents of the ext3 journal. By default, dump the journal inode as specified in the superblock. However, this canbe overridden with the -i option, which dumps the journal from the internal inode given by filespec. A regular file contain‐ing journal data can be specified using the -f option. Finally, the -s option utilizes the backup information in thesuperblock to locate the journal.The -S option causes logdump to print the contents of the journal superblock.The -a option causes the logdump program to print the contents of all of the descriptor blocks. The -b option causes logdumpto print all journal records that refer to the specified block. The -c option will print out the contents of all of the datablocks selected by the -a and -b options.The -O option causes logdump to display old (checkpointed) journal entries. This can be used to try to track down journalproblems even after the journal has been replayed.ls [-l] [-c] [-d] [-p] [-r] filespecPrint a listing of the files in the directory filespec. The -c flag causes directory block checksums (if present) to be dis‐played. The -d flag will list deleted entries in the directory. The -l flag will list files using a more verbose format.The -p flag will list the files in a format which is more easily parsable by scripts, as well as making it more clear whenthere are spaces or other non-printing characters at the end of filenames. The -r flag will force the printing of the file‐name, even if it is encrypted.list_deleted_inodes [limit]List deleted inodes, optionally limited to those deleted within limit seconds ago. Also available as lsdel.This command was useful for recovering from accidental file deletions for ext2 file systems. Unfortunately, it is not usefulfor this purpose if the files were deleted using ext3 or ext4, since the inode's data blocks are no longer available after theinode is released.modify_inode filespecModify the contents of the inode structure in the inode filespec. Also available as mi.mkdir filespecMake a directory.mknod filespec [p|[[c|b] major minor]]Create a special device file (a named pipe, character or block device). If a character or block device is to be made, themajor and minor device numbers must be specified.ncheck [-c] inode_num ...Take the requested list of inode numbers, and print a listing of pathnames to those inodes. The -c flag will enable checkingthe file type information in the directory entry to make sure it matches the inode's type.open [-weficD] [-b blocksize] [-d image_filename] [-s superblock] [-z undo_file] deviceOpen a filesystem for editing. The -f flag forces the filesystem to be opened even if there are some unknown or incompatiblefilesystem features which would normally prevent the filesystem from being opened. The -e flag causes the filesystem to beopened in exclusive mode. The -b, -c, -d, -i, -s, -w, and -D options behave the same as the command-line options to debugfs.punch filespec start_blk [end_blk]Delete the blocks in the inode ranging from start_blk to end_blk. If end_blk is omitted then this command will function as atruncate command; that is, all of the blocks starting at start_blk through to the end of the file will be deallocated.symlink filespec targetMake a symbolic link.pwd Print the current working directory.quit Quit debugfsrdump directory[...] destinationRecursively dump directory, or multiple directories, and all its contents (including regular files, symbolic links, and otherdirectories) into the named destination, which should be an existing directory on the native filesystem.rm pathnameUnlink pathname. If this causes the inode pointed to by pathname to have no other references, deallocate the file. This com‐mand functions as the unlink() system call.rmdir filespecRemove the directory filespec.setb block [count]Mark the block number block as allocated. If the optional argument count is present, then count blocks starting at block num‐ber block will be marked as allocated.set_block_group bgnum field valueModify the block group descriptor specified by bgnum so that the block group descriptor field field has value value. Alsoavailable as set_bg.set_current_time timeSet current time in seconds since Unix epoch to use when setting filesystem fields.seti filespec [num]Mark inode filespec as in use in the inode bitmap. If num is specified, also set num-1 inodes after the specified inode.set_inode_field filespec field valueModify the inode specified by filespec so that the inode field field has value value. The list of valid inode fields whichcan be set via this command can be displayed by using the command: set_inode_field -l Also available as sif.set_mmp_value field valueModify the multiple-mount protection (MMP) data so that the MMP field field has value value. The list of valid MMP fieldswhich can be set via this command can be displayed by using the command: set_mmp_value -l Also available as smmp.set_super_value field valueSet the superblock field field to value. The list of valid superblock fields which can be set via this command can be dis‐played by using the command: set_super_value -l Also available as ssv.show_debugfs_paramsDisplay debugfs parameters such as information about currently opened filesystem.show_super_stats [-h]List the contents of the super block and the block group descriptors. If the -h flag is given, only print out the superblockcontents. Also available as stats.stat filespecDisplay the contents of the inode structure of the inode filespec.supported_featuresDisplay filesystem features supported by this version of debugfs.testb block [count]Test if the block number block is marked as allocated in the block bitmap. If the optional argument count is present, thencount blocks starting at block number block will be tested.testi filespecTest if the inode filespec is marked as allocated in the inode bitmap.undel <inode_number> [pathname]Undelete the specified inode number (which must be surrounded by angle brackets) so that it and its blocks are marked in use,and optionally link the recovered inode to the specified pathname. The e2fsck command should always be run after using theundel command to recover deleted files.Note that if you are recovering a large number of deleted files, linking the inode to a directory may require the directory tobe expanded, which could allocate a block that had been used by one of the yet-to-be-undeleted files. So it is safer toundelete all of the inodes without specifying a destination pathname, and then in a separate pass, use the debugfs link com‐mand to link the inode to the destination pathname, or use e2fsck to check the filesystem and link all of the recovered inodesto the lost+found directory.unlink pathnameRemove the link specified by pathname to an inode. Note this does not adjust the inode reference counts.write source_file out_fileCopy the contents of source_file into a newly-created file in the filesystem named out_file.zap_block [-f filespec] [-o offset] [-l length] [-p pattern] block_numOverwrite the block specified by block_num with zero (NUL) bytes, or if -p is given use the byte specified by pattern. If -fis given then block_num is relative to the start of the file given by filespec. The -o and -l options limit the range ofbytes to zap to the specified offset and length relative to the start of the block.zap_block [-f filespec] [-b bit] block_numBit-flip portions of the physical block_num. If -f is given, then block_num is a logical block relative to the start of file‐spec.ENVIRONMENT VARIABLESDEBUGFS_PAGER, PAGERThe debugfs program always pipes the output of the some commands through a pager program. These commands include:show_super_stats (stats), list_directory (ls), show_inode_info (stat), list_deleted_inodes (lsdel), and htree_dump. The spe‐cific pager can explicitly specified by the DEBUGFS_PAGER environment variable, and if it is not set, by the PAGER environmentvariable.Note that since a pager is always used, the less(1) pager is not particularly appropriate, since it clears the screen beforedisplaying the output of the command and clears the output the screen when the pager is exited. Many users prefer to use theless(1) pager for most purposes, which is why the DEBUGFS_PAGER environment variable is available to override the more generalPAGER environment variable.AUTHORdebugfs was written by Theodore Ts'o <tytso@mit.edu>.