#219 Is veracrypt linux version compatible with 4K sectors HDD

[arsenelupin]

Hello,

I remark than veracrypt windows and linux doesn't have the some options.
Example the direct mode not exist in linux.

So I tried to use may 4K sectors HDD that make some issues on linux and it just work on Windows without any issue, I cant mount my outer volume and protect the hidden volume.

If I try to do the same on my linux it doesn't work (it work with another HDD).
The only différence is that my HDD is in an external storage and that is an 4K sectors.

If you need more info let me know.

Cheers.

[arsenelupin]

Hello,

Little update to say that it's the same issue on veracrypt-1.23-BETA0 (on linux)

Cheers

[Mounir IDRASSI]

Hi,

Normally the Linux version is now compatible with 4K disks and I have
done a modification in October 2014 to address an issue with 4K disks:
https://sourceforge.net/p/veracrypt/code/ci/a7620656eb1d4c3f90a75a5194d6016ba4b235ca/

Can you please give more details about the issues you are encountering?
What kind of error do you have when mounting or using the disk on Linux?
Can you please share details about the disk you are using and its layout?

Also, on Windows, can you please run the ListDrivesTool available at
https://sourceforge.net/projects/veracrypt/files/Contributions/ and post
the output related the affected external disk?

Thank you for your help.

[arsenelupin]

Hello,
I posted a part of the answer below (sorry I not use very much sourceforge)

The disk is in an external box with another one.
It's a Toshiba 3To and for testing here I use a little partition but normally I use 1 big partition for all my data.

ListDrivesTool give me these informations

\\?\Physicalrive4 :
Layout Partition Style = PARTITION_STYLE_GPT
Layout Parition Count = 1
    Partition 1: 
        StartOffset=1048576
        Length=1073741824 - 0FC63DAF-8483-4772-8E-79-3D-69-D8-47-7D-E4 - OK

I just tested on Windows 7 to mount my outer volume with protection for hidden volume and it work wihout any issues

Cheers.

[Mounir IDRASSI]

Thanks for the info, now I understand better the issue.

Indeed, the code doesn't allow to protect hidden volume of 4K disks (cf
https://sourceforge.net/p/veracrypt/code/ci/master/tree/src/Core/Unix/CoreUnix.cpp#l479)
and this part of the code was inherited from TrueCrypt and I didn't
modify it after I made the modification to support 4K disks because I
was not sure about its purpose.
4 years after doing the 4K commit, I think it is time to remove this
code. I will push tomorrow a modification to remove it. You can also do
it on your side and compile VeraCrypt to be able to use the protection.

[arsenelupin]

Thanks, I will wait your modification and buid.
I'm not really confident to compile it by myself.

Thanks for maintain Veracrypt.

[arsenelupin]

Hello again,

You know when it would be build with the nightly version ?

Cheers

[Mounir IDRASSI]

I'm on it actually. I should be able to upload 1.23-BETA3 in 2 hours.

[Mounir IDRASSI]

I have uploaded the Linux installer of 1.23-BETA3. Let me know if you
encounter any issue.

[arsenelupin]

Tested and I confirm that it's now working with 1.23 BETA3
Thanks

I not find the close button, I let you close this.
Sorry for the inconvenience.

[arsenelupin]

Hello,

I have the next message when I try to mount my outer volume with protection for the hidden volume.

Error: The drive uses a sector size other than 512 bytes.

Due to limitations of components available on your platform, outer volumes hosted on the drive cannot be mounted using hidden volume protection.

Possible solutions:

- Use a drive with 512-byte sectors.
- Create a file-hosted volume (container) on the drive.
- Backup the contents of the hidden volume and then update the outer volume.

I did a little partition of 1Go because it took long time to format 3To always.
I will do the windows part a little later (I don't have my Windows VM right now).

Cheers.