The question belongs in debian-user. Anyway, the answer is between 57856 and 58368 bytes is the minimum size on my "potato" system.
I could probably determine a more exact answer, but I don't care. Just make it at least 114 blocks and you should be OK. I haven't verified if the 114 block filesystem WORKS, but at least mke2fs didn't error out. nmc:~$ dd if=/dev/zero of=~/junk count=113 113+0 records in 113+0 records out nmc:~$ /sbin/mke2fs junk mke2fs 1.18, 11-Nov-1999 for EXT2 FS 0.5b, 95/08/09 junk is not a block special device. Proceed anyway? (y,n) y junk: Not enough space to build proposed filesystem while setting up superblock nmc:~$ dd if=/dev/zero of=~/junk count=114 114+0 records in 114+0 records out nmc:~$ /sbin/mke2fs junk mke2fs 1.18, 11-Nov-1999 for EXT2 FS 0.5b, 95/08/09 junk is not a block special device. Proceed anyway? (y,n) y Filesystem label= OS type: Linux Block size=1024 (log=0) Fragment size=1024 (log=0) 16 inodes, 57 blocks 2 blocks (3.51%) reserved for the super user First data block=1 1 block group 8192 blocks per group, 8192 fragments per group 16 inodes per group Writing inode tables: done Writing superblocks and filesystem accounting information: done nmc:~$ /sbin/mke2fs -V mke2fs 1.18, 11-Nov-1999 for EXT2 FS 0.5b, 95/08/09 Using EXT2FS Library version 1.18 ----- Forwarded by Vince Mulhollon/Brookfield/Norlight on 02/05/2001 09:53 AM ----- Dale Scheetz <[EMAIL PROTECTED] To: debian-devel@lists.debian.org s.net> cc: (bcc: Vince Mulhollon/Brookfield/Norlight) Fax to: 02/05/2001 Subject: Smallest ext2 file system? 04:45 AM I've been experimenting with using an image file to hold small sets of files, and have run into a snag. If I make the file only a few K large, mke2fs complains it can't write a superblock. So, my question is: What is the smallest ext2 file system that can be created? Any suggestions welcomed, Dwarf -- _-_-_-_-_- Author of "The Debian Linux User's Guide" _-_-_-_-_-_- aka Dale Scheetz Phone: 1 (850) 656-9769 Flexible Software 11000 McCrackin Road e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tallahassee, FL 32308 _-_-_-_-_-_- See www.linuxpress.com for more details _-_-_-_-_-_-_- -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]