Re: [SLE] SuSE 8.2 -- What is the best file system?
Hi List, Thank you for your help Charles.
file system types that SuSE offers out of the box? And if so, can you please elaborate which is the "best" to use?
Decide for youself after reading this series of articles on >>journaling FS for Linux:
I will definitely check out these articles!
Basically, it boils down to:
(1) Speed and saving of disk space when you have lots of small files: ReiserFS
(2) Data integrity and compatibility with existing tools designed >>for ext2 : ext3
So, is ext3/ext2 the standard file system for GNU/linux? If so, why spend so much time developing other kinds of filesystems like Reiser FS, XFS, JFS? A file system is critical to any operating system and I think it would be much better if everyone could just focus their efforts on improving one file system. This is the case with MS Windows. They started out with FAT, then moved on to FAT32 and finally are using NTFS. The same goes for other stuff in the open source community like KDE and Gnome for example. This "multiplicity" approach hurts linux as a whole. Linux software as a whole should not compete against other linux software but should compete against other OS's software.
(3) Video streaming server and systems with very large files: XFS.
I myself use ext3 for all partitions. YMMV
Thats cool. So I guess you haven't had any problems with it, eh? Thanks again for the info, ~~Nick _______________________________________________ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web!
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, On Sunday 13 April 2003 19:29, Nicholas Parsons wrote:
"multiplicity" approach hurts linux as a whole. Linux software as a whole should not compete against other linux software but should compete against other OS's software.
Ever heard of a thing called "choice"? - -- Cheers, Chris Howells -- chris@chrishowells.co.uk, howells@kde.org Web: http://chrishowells.co.uk, PGP ID: 33795A2C KDE: http://www.koffice.org, http://printing.kde.org, http://usability.kde.org -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.2.2-rc1-SuSE (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQE+ma4aF8Iu1zN5WiwRAsgLAJ9wVRlC3wgi5nyoygbbQLaJ/2baEwCfZfmH KgALNReR9Y1hx3HFWrvj37I= =Iu0Z -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
On Sun, 2003-04-13 at 20:29, Nicholas Parsons wrote:
So, is ext3/ext2 the standard file system for GNU/linux?
I don't believe you can speak of a standard. The "vanilla" kernel has several file systems, and they're all interoperable, in the sense that a file stored on one system can be moved to another without alteration.
If so, why spend so much time developing other kinds of filesystems like Reiser FS, XFS, JFS?
One file system is good at one thing, another are good at different things. Hans Reiser & co. have very specific ideas on how to develop a file system, the people at SGI have different ideas and their experiences with high performance graphics systems has evolved into present day XFS.
A file system is critical to any operating system and I think it would be much better if everyone could just focus their efforts on improving one file system. This is the case with MS Windows. They started out with FAT, then moved on to FAT32 and finally are using NTFS. The same goes for other stuff in the open source community like KDE and Gnome for example. This "multiplicity" approach hurts linux as a whole. Linux software as a whole should not compete against other linux software but should compete against other OS's software.
Head down to your local library and check out a book called "On the origin of species" by Charles Darwin. It may not be on the comp.sci. curriculum yet, but it should be.
On Sunday 13 April 2003 19:29, Nicholas Parsons wrote: <SNIP>
So, is ext3/ext2 the standard file system for GNU/linux?
Well, sort-of defacto, I suppose, does the LSB say anything about fs choice?
If so, why spend so much time developing other kinds of filesystems like Reiser FS, XFS, JFS?
Choice, versatility, ...
A file system is critical to any operating system
You're partly right, the fs is critical to the intended function of the machine, different fs's have different capabilities wrt: - how they handle large files or many small files; - how much performance impact they have; - data security and integrity; - ...
and I think it would be much better if everyone could just focus their efforts on improving one file system.
And optimize in which direction? Large databases with many random accesses, or video streamers with potentially huge but sequentially accessed files? Do we impose strict security and heavy integrity checking on a floppy?
This is the case with MS Windows. They started out with FAT, then moved on to FAT32 and finally are using NTFS.
And all three of these are sooooo efficient and robust, eh?
The same goes for other stuff in the open source community like KDE and Gnome for example.
And any well written app aimed at the one will function happily on the other...
This "multiplicity" approach hurts linux as a whole.
On the contrary - it is the wellspring of creativity and progress.
Linux software as a whole should not compete against other linux software but should compete against other OS's software.
I run ext3 throughout - no problems that fsck can't fix. Dylan -- Sweet moderation Heart of this nation Desert us not We are between the wars - Billy Bragg
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On April 13, 2003 02:29 pm, Nicholas Parsons wrote:
Thank you for your help Charles.
No problem, don't forget to checkout my other post- there are two more links there that I forgot.
So, is ext3/ext2 the standard file system for GNU/linux?
ext2 was the standard, but now-a-days the default FS is dependent on the preference of your distro. For example SuSE defaults to ReiserFS and SuSE, ReiserFS.
If so, why spend so much time developing other kinds of filesystems like Reiser FS, XFS, JFS? A file system is critical to any operating system and I think it would be much better if everyone could just focus their efforts on improving one file system.
Because one size does not fit all. They all have different features, strength and weaknesses. The choice is dependent on: (1) the average size of the majority of your files, (2) the file access pattern of the type of work the machine does most, and (3) the degree of protection you want (XFS, JFS, and ResierFS can only journal meta-data, while ext3 can journal both meta-data and data). Also, not all are developed from scratch, for example: (1) XFS is a port of the native file system of Irix This is why it is so good for video streaming and working with large files. (2) JFS is a port of the native file system of AIX. (3) ext3 is basically ext2 with journaling. The interesting thing about ext3 is that it is in 2 parts: (1) jbd (Journalling block device), (2) and ext3. The journalling block device is generic and could be used to support journalling on: (1) devices other then harddrives, (2) Other FS's. Out of the four, only ReiserFS is developed from scratch.
This "multiplicity" approach hurts linux as a whole.
It is a double edged sword, To some people it is confusing, but to others, like myself, it is freedom.
Linux software as a whole should not compete against other linux software but should compete against other OS's software.
Look at it another way- The competition between projects is actually quite healthy and promotes better software. This is basic Darwinism 101. Charles - -- "Linux, because up-time matters gawk; talk; date; wine; grep; touch; unzip; touch; gasp; finger; gasp; mount;\ fsck; more; yes; gasp; umount; make clean; make mrproper; sleep." - --Drunken Bastard -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.0.7 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQE+mbsd3epPyyKbwPYRAvGbAKCJz6QSQWWI8gluYcAtLyFbN/hjvgCfeftl 0CA8WL0BFG93e854K57GoTU= =SDB6 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On April 13, 2003 02:29 pm, Nicholas Parsons wrote:
Thats cool. So I guess you haven't had any problems with it, eh?
I started using ext3 before SuSE officially supported journaling and have never had a probably with it. Charles - -- "Linux, because up-time matters gawk; talk; date; wine; grep; touch; unzip; touch; gasp; finger; gasp; mount;\ fsck; more; yes; gasp; umount; make clean; make mrproper; sleep." - --Drunken Bastard -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.0.7 (GNU/Linux) iD4DBQE+mbu43epPyyKbwPYRAvaKAJUcgQwekj8EC/4X/bGLkjLFj/wiAJ9ozBFI o4ioj95Xa+lrskYJMgHtIg== =p+qI -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
I would review the files used and generated plus the way the fs will be used. I went back to ext2/3 due to the ease of use and transferability. You can go to ext3 from ext2 with a change in fstab and vice versa. At the time I was using apps which recognized ext2 but not ext3 specifically.
From my reading of the different fses none towers above the others; each covers a need better than the others. Pick the fs which will satisfy your current fs use.
On Sun, 2003-04-13 at 15:34, Charles Philip Chan wrote:
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On April 13, 2003 02:29 pm, Nicholas Parsons wrote:
Thats cool. So I guess you haven't had any problems with it, eh?
I started using ext3 before SuSE officially supported journaling and have never had a probably with it.
Charles
- -- "Linux, because up-time matters gawk; talk; date; wine; grep; touch; unzip; touch; gasp; finger; gasp; mount;\ fsck; more; yes; gasp; umount; make clean; make mrproper; sleep." - --Drunken Bastard -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.0.7 (GNU/Linux)
iD4DBQE+mbu43epPyyKbwPYRAvaKAJUcgQwekj8EC/4X/bGLkjLFj/wiAJ9ozBFI o4ioj95Xa+lrskYJMgHtIg== =p+qI -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- Cheers,
Serge C Naggar [Naggar Consulting]
As I understand it, and I could be wrong, you can read ext2 and ext3 filesystems from Windows using Explore2fs, but you can't do that with Reiser. If you want to be able to exchange files with Windows, you should stay with ext2 or ext3. (I have not verified that ext3 works, but it's supposed to.) --doug At 17:13 04/13/2003 -0400, Serge Naggar wrote:
I would review the files used and generated plus the way the fs will be used.
I went back to ext2/3 due to the ease of use and transferability. You can go to ext3 from ext2 with a change in fstab and vice versa. At the time I was using apps which recognized ext2 but not ext3 specifically.
From my reading of the different fses none towers above the others; each covers a need better than the others. Pick the fs which will satisfy your current fs use.
On Sun, 2003-04-13 at 15:34, Charles Philip Chan wrote:
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On April 13, 2003 02:29 pm, Nicholas Parsons wrote:
Thats cool. So I guess you haven't had any problems with it, eh?
I started using ext3 before SuSE officially supported journaling and have never had a probably with it.
Charles
- -- "Linux, because up-time matters gawk; talk; date; wine; grep; touch; unzip; touch; gasp; finger; gasp; mount;\ fsck; more; yes; gasp; umount; make clean; make mrproper; sleep." - --Drunken Bastard -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.0.7 (GNU/Linux)
iD4DBQE+mbu43epPyyKbwPYRAvaKAJUcgQwekj8EC/4X/bGLkjLFj/wiAJ9ozBFI o4ioj95Xa+lrskYJMgHtIg== =p+qI -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- Cheers,
Serge C Naggar [Naggar Consulting]
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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On Monday 14 April 2003 06:02 am, Doug McGarrett wrote:
As I understand it, and I could be wrong, you can read ext2 and ext3 filesystems from Windows using Explore2fs, but you can't do that with Reiser.
If you want to read Reiser partitions in Windows, use rfstool: http://p-nand-q.com/e/reiserfs.html - -- James Oakley Engineering - SolutionInc Ltd. joakley@solutioninc.com http://www.solutioninc.com -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.0.7 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQE+msBk+FOexA3koIgRAoW/AJ9/PGEEMiru5TVdUMJ2owMdSTGvPgCfYCZ+ iGmVDxE0dOFhIlrYhjNubAM= =TzZQ -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
participants (8)
-
Anders Johansson -
Charles Philip Chan -
Chris Howells -
Doug McGarrett -
Dylan -
James Oakley -
Nicholas Parsons -
Serge Naggar