Arch Linux

scrawler

Member

Registered: 2005-06-07

Posts: 312

stupid filesystemswitching question

It's stupid because I think I know the answer.

Changing filesystems will wipe out all data, won't it?

I have an old system with an old slow harddrive.  I got the wild idea to put xfs on it, and I think it was a mistake because any time I run pacman or whatever the disk thrashes too much.  Would a different filesystem help?  I usually use ext3.  I'm hesitant to use Reiser4 just because of the whole killling thing (not a good reason I know).

phooey.  I don't know anything about filesystems. 

are these things true?

1. new filesystem = backup, wipe out, start over.
2. a new filesystem will help with disk thrashing and overall speed.

thanks!

SiC

Member

From: Liverpool, England

Registered: 2008-01-10

Posts: 428

Re: stupid filesystemswitching question

XFS is a pretty good filesystem, although it is optimised for large files; so swapping filesystems may, or may not help at all. I use ReiserFS3 on reasonably new hardware, and have never had a problem, so switching to that might be worth a look.

Possibly the best filesystem would be ext3, simply because it is based on ext2, which I used to run on old machines dating back 10 or more years; it depends on if you want the journalling capabilities, if not then go for ext2.

As for switching filesystem types, yes, you would need to wipe the entire partition and start from scratch, so backing up your home folder would be required.

elmer_42

Member

From: /na/usa/ca

Registered: 2008-10-11

Posts: 427

Re: stupid filesystemswitching question

Yes, changing file systems will wipe out all data. If you are wondering which file system to use, this Wikipedia article comparing file systems might come in handy.

The only worry I have about the Reiser file systems is the fact that there will probably not be any more support for it. However, if there is some sort of project that springs up to develop it I wouldn't hesitate to use ReiserFS.

Yes, if you change file systems you will need to backup your data and restore it to save your current data. There are people that claim that ReiserFS increases their system's speed, but I haven't tried it myself.

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JonathanArcher

Member

From: San Francisco

Registered: 2008-11-12

Posts: 108

Re: stupid filesystemswitching question

I'm not absolutley sure about this, but changing from ext3 to ext4 could be done without wiping out all the data on the partition, couldn't it?

scrawler

Member

Registered: 2005-06-07

Posts: 312

Re: stupid filesystemswitching question

ext3 to ext4 could be done

That could be handy to know if it's true, but I already have xfs on this thing.

fukawi2

Forum Moderator

From: .vic.au

Registered: 2007-09-28

Posts: 4,705

Website

Re: stupid filesystemswitching question

I'm not absolutley sure about this, but changing from ext3 to ext4 could be done without wiping out all the data on the partition, couldn't it?

I believe if you mount an ext3 partition as ext4, it will work as ext4, however you won't be able to mount it as ext3 again. I stand to be corrected.

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Wintervenom

Member

From: /home/wintervenom

Registered: 2008-08-20

Posts: 1,011

Website

Re: stupid filesystemswitching question

It's stupid because I think I know the answer.

Changing filesystems will wipe out all data, won't it?

[...]

are these things true?

1. new filesystem = backup, wipe out, start over.
2. a new filesystem will help with disk thrashing and overall speed.

thanks!

1.  Generally, yes.  But you can also use the convertfs program in the AUR to convert your current filesystem to another without having to wipe anything.  I'd back up before trying it, however.

2.  I think the only thing to help with disk thrashing is, well, more RAM, and to turn off unused services and maybe even the updatedb task that runs every now and then.

As for the filesystem, maybe you could try JFS with the deadline I/O scheduler.
JFS seems to have the lowest CPU usage of all the major filesystems, which would probably be a good thing on an old computer, and performs very well with deadline.

Last edited by Wintervenom (2008-11-27 22:16:38)

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kjon

Member

From: Temuco, Chile

Registered: 2008-04-16

Posts: 398

Re: stupid filesystemswitching question

convertfs is always handy!

convertfs /device from_fs to_fs

tachaaan!

*big fat warning*: In spite of this program is able to convert filesystems on the fly **it needs enough free space to hold the __LARGEST__ directory of your device**, this is due a limitation on the mv command, which copies all the files first, and then deletes.

p.s. there is a lot of people complaining against convertfs. In my particular setup, I've never experienced a single hitch, due to I always consider the previous warning.

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Acecero

Member

Registered: 2008-06-21

Posts: 1,373

Re: stupid filesystemswitching question

I'm not absolutley sure about this, but changing from ext3 to ext4 could be done without wiping out all the data on the partition, couldn't it?

I believe if you mount an ext3 partition as ext4, it will work as ext4, however you won't be able to mount it as ext3 again. I stand to be corrected.

You are correct; however it is only when the extents feature is enabled in ext4 by default in the kernel. Otherwise you can mount backwards to ext3.

scrawler

Member

Registered: 2005-06-07

Posts: 312

Re: stupid filesystemswitching question

while I'm thowing stupid questions around, here's another one.  When I try convertfs, I get

# No support for `jfs' filesystem in the kernel.

none for reiser either.

how can I get "support?"

I've got everything backed up, I think, and can't think of a reason not to go for it.

wish me luck.  thanks!

wuischke

Member

From: Suisse Romande

Registered: 2007-01-06

Posts: 630

Re: stupid filesystemswitching question

Try "modprobe jfs" or "modprobe reiserfs" respectively.

Ghost1227

Forum Fellow

From: Omaha, NE, USA

Registered: 2008-04-21

Posts: 1,418

Website

Re: stupid filesystemswitching question

only stupid question is one not asked.

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