Allow generic configuration of the MTD partition tables via the kernel
command line. Multiple flash resources are supported for hardware where
different kinds of flash memory are available.

You will still need the parsing functions to be called by the driver
for your particular device. It won't happen automatically. The
SA1100 map driver (CONFIG_MTD_SA1100) has an option for this, for
example.

The format for the command line is as follows:

mtdparts=<mtddef>[;<mtddef]
<mtddef> := <mtd-id>:<partdef>[,<partdef>]
<partdef> := <size>[@offset][<name>][ro]
<mtd-id> := unique id used in mapping driver/device
<size> := standard linux memsize OR "-" to denote all
remaining space
<name> := (NAME)

Due to the way Linux handles the command line, no spaces are
allowed in the partition definition, including mtd id's and partition
names.

Examples:

1 flash resource (mtd-id "sa1100"), with 1 single writable partition:
mtdparts=sa1100:-

Same flash, but 2 named partitions, the first one being read-only:
mtdparts=sa1100:256k(ARMboot)ro,-(root)

If unsure, say 'N'.

source code:

drivers/mtd/cmdlinepart.c