---
name: "kpartx"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "multipath-tools"
version: "0.15.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/kpartx"
---

# kpartx(8)

Create device maps from partition tables.

## NAME

kpartx - Create device maps from partition tables.

## SYNOPSIS

**kpartx** \[**-a**\|**-d**\|**-u**\|**-l**\] \[**-r**\] \[**-p**\] \[**-f**\] \[**-g**\] \[**-s**\|**-n**\] \[**-v**\] **wholedisk**

## DESCRIPTION

This tool, derived from util-linux' partx, reads partition tables on specified device and create device maps over partitions segments detected. It is called from hotplug upon device maps creation and deletion.

## OPTIONS

- **-a**

  Add partition mappings.

- **-d**

  Delete partition mappings.

- **-u**

  Update partition mappings.

- **-l**

  List partition mappings that would be added -a.

- **-r**

  Read-only partition mappings.

- **-p**

  Set device name-partition number delimiter.

- **-f**

  Force creation of mappings; overrides 'no\_partitions' feature.

- **-g**

  Force GUID partition table (GPT).

- **-s**

  Sync mode (Default). Don't return until the partitions are created.

- **-n**

  Nosync mode. Return before the partitions are created.

- **-v**

  Operate verbosely.

## EXAMPLE

To mount all the partitions in a raw disk image:

-

  kpartx -av disk.img

This will output lines such as:

-

  add map loop1p1 (254:4): 0 409597 linear 7:1 3

The *loop1p1* is the name of a device file under */dev/mapper* which you can use to access the partition, for example to fsck it:

-

  fsck /dev/mapper/loop1p1

When you're done, you need to remove the devices:

-

  kpartx -d disk.img

## SEE ALSO

[**multipath**(8)](/multipath/8.md) [**multipathd**(8)](/multipathd/8.md) [**hotplug**(8)](/hotplug/8.md)

## AUTHORS

This man page was assembled By Patrick Caulfield for the Debian project.

*multipath-tools* was developed by Christophe Varoqui \<christophe.varoqui@opensvc.com\> and others.