
mtoolstest Commands in Linux
mtoolstest is a diagnostic utility that's part of the mtools suite. It's used in Linux to test and debug the functionality of other mtools commands. This tool is particularly useful for developers and system administrators who want to ensure that mtools commands are working correctly and efficiently.
Table of Contents
Here is a comprehensive guide to the options available with the mtoolstest command −
Key Features of mtoolstest Command
mtoolstest offers several key features that make it an essential tool for system diagnostics and debugging −
Command Testing
One of the primary functions of mtoolstest is to test the functionality of various mtools commands. Running these tests allows users to verify that commands like mdir, mcopy, and mdelete are performing as expected. This helps ensure accurate and reliable file operations on MS-DOS file systems.
Debugging
mtoolstest also helps you in identifying issues with mtools by providing detailed diagnostic information. This includes error warnings, messages and other relevant data that can help you pinpoint the source of problems.
Integration Check
Another important feature of mtoolstest is verifying the integration and compatibility of mtools with your system. It checks dependencies, file permissions, and other system factors to ensure mtools is correctly installed and configured.
Examples of mtoolstest Command in Linux
Let's explore some practical examples of how you can use mtoolstest on your system −
- Running a Basic Test
- Generating a Detailed Report
Running a Basic Test
To run a basic test with mtoolstest, use the following command −
mtoolstest
This command will initiate a series of tests and output the results to the terminal.

Here is the description of output you will see after running the mtoolstest on Linux −
- drive M:: Defines settings for drive M:.
- #fn=2 mode=0 defined in /etc/mtools.conf: Indicates where the definition is located.
- file="/var/lib/dosemu/hdimage.first": Specifies the file representing the drive, in this case, a virtual hard disk image.
- fat_bits=0: Indicates automatic detection of FAT size.
- tracks=0 heads=0 sectors=0 hidden=0: Set to 0 for automatic detection of geometry.
- offset=0x80: Specifies the offset within the file where the partition starts.
- partition=1: Refers to the first partition of the disk image.
- mtools_fat_compatibility=0: Ensures compatibility with different FAT versions. 0 means default compatibility settings.
- mtools_skip_check=0: Disables skipping of consistency checks. 0 means checks are performed.
- mtools_lower_case=0: Controls the conversion of filenames to lowercase. 0 means filenames remain unchanged.
Generating a Detailed Report
To generate a detailed report of the test results, you can redirect the output to a file −
mtoolstest > mtools_report.txt
This command saves the detailed test results to mtools_report.txt for further analysis.

Conclusion
mtoolstest is an invaluable utility for diagnosing and debugging mtools commands. By using this tool, you can ensure that your mtools suite is functioning correctly and efficiently.
Whether you're a developer looking to test command functionality or a system administrator needing to save test results to a file, mtoolstest provides the diagnostic capabilities you need.