FAT

FAT is a high-performance, full-featured, FAT12/16/32-based, DOS-compatible file system designed for embedded applications.

FAT Features

• FAT12, FAT16 and FAT32
• Long filenames
• Robust
• Multiple volumes
• Mix of media types
• Unicode16 support
• Media error handling
• Fully PC compatible
• Multiple files open for reading/writing
• Multiple simultaneous users of open files
• ANSI C compliant C source
• Standard API (fopen, fclose, fwrite, etc.)
• Efficient zero-copy read/write
• Caching options
• CheckDisk utility
• Detailed implementation guide

Sample drivers and hardware reference designs are available for:

• Compact Flash Cards
• MultiMediaCards
• SD, SDv2 and SDHC Cards
• Hard disk drive
• RAM drive
• USB mass storage
• USB MTP (Media Transfer Protocol)
• NAND flash
• Atmel DataFlash

FAT is designed to be easily portable; it has very few host system dependencies. It is tested on several commercial RTOSes and also as a stand-alone system with no RTOS. We are not aware of any RTOS to which it cannot be easily ported.   All the code is supplied in ANSI compliant ´C´. It is tested with multiple development environments (including GCC, Visual C++ and all our listed partners) and is run through a syntax checker to ensure the highest level of compatibility.  Also supplied with the system is sample application code (HTTP server and FTP server) for easy exercise of the system. In addition, the package contains sample drivers for various media types, with clear reference to their hardware dependencies.   The FAT Developer´s Guide provides detailed information on all aspects of porting and indicates clearly the areas that may need to be modified for a particular host system. In particular, the host system may provide:

• Real time clock for time/date information. This is necessary if time/date information is to be stored with an application’s files.
• Random number generator to support serial number generation during formatting operations. This is recommended only if formatting of media is required.
• Semaphores for mutual exclusion. This is required only in a pre-emptive system.

FAT is designed to interface to any standard DOS-compatible device through standard interface routines (read_sector(), write_sector(), etc.). A set of reference drivers is provided for quick and risk free integration.  Among the device types that can be used with FAT are the following:

• MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital and SDHC Cards
• Compact Flash Cards
• Hard Disk Drives
• Atmel DataFlash
• NAND Flash
• USB Mass Storage
• USB Media Transfer Protocol
• USB Reliable File Interface
• RAM Drive
• Other Devices