Flash Expander: space for the system
Menu → Setup → System → Storage Devices → Flash Expander can relocate /usr to an external local drive. This directory contains many programs, libraries, plugins and skin files. It is particularly relevant to receivers with little internal flash space.
Flash Expander does not increase RAM or create a MultiBoot slot. It also does not automatically move every configuration file, recording and cache. Files outside /usr, such as those in /etc, still need space in their original location.
Target, status and actions
Section titled “Target, status and actions”| Element | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Target location | Select a local device/partition. The dialog discovers candidates from detected drives and UUIDs. |
| Active / inactive | Whether /usr is currently mounted through Flash Expander. |
| Enabled / disabled | Whether /etc/fstab contains the startup mount. This is distinct from the current mount state. |
| Green | Depending on the state: choose a target, copy and activate, deactivate, or delete an existing inactive expander. Read the current button label. |
| Yellow: Format | Opens drive formatting, a separate action that erases data. |
| Cancel | Leave the dialog. |
The technical option reference documents config.flashExpander.location. The screen builds the other actions dynamically.
Setting it up
Section titled “Setting it up”- Make a backup. Choose a reliable drive that will remain connected permanently.
- Verify the device, partition, free space and file system. Use a suitable Linux file system such as ext4 to preserve Unix permissions and symbolic links.
- Select the target in Flash Expander. Do not identify a drive solely by a changeable name such as
/dev/sdb. - Start the offered creation/activation action and wait until copying finishes. It copies the contents and structure of
/usr. - Complete any requested restart, then check status and free space.
In the reviewed version, the copy lives in .FlashExpander on the target. /etc/fstab mounts the device by UUID at /.FlashExpander, then bind-mounts /.FlashExpander/.FlashExpander over /usr. These paths explain the mechanism; do not reconstruct the entries manually from this description.
Deactivation, deletion and image changes
Section titled “Deactivation, deletion and image changes”Deactivate removes the expander mount configuration and requests a reboot. Delete removes the existing inactive expander copy. Before either action, check that the internal system has the programs you need: files installed or updated after relocation are not automatically copied back to internal flash.
Keep the drive connected during operation. If it fails, programs and libraries needed by the running receiver may disappear. After installing another image, do not blindly reuse the previous /usr copy: kernel, libraries and packages may no longer match. Rebuild the expander for the new image state.
Placing the expander on a NAS would make startup and program execution depend on the network and server. Use local storage for this purpose. Swap and NAS recordings remain separate topics.