ext2 redux

DaveCode · 2012-09-17 22:26:20

https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/31568

"The ext4 supports ext2/ext3 FS so no need to activate the old modules."

Yes. So why won't Arch mount ext2 without help? Legacy fstab files across the universe say 'ext2' or 'auto' - so for end users, Arch just breaks.

mount -t ext2 ... should work
mount -t auto ... should work for ext2 like everything else
ext2 in fstab should work

What happens instead: Arch reports it doesn't know any such thing as an ext2 filesystem.

Me, I don't care how ext2 support is accomplished, but Arch should supply it, not end users. Unless a sysadmin hip to obscure ext4 capability details is on call, then what an end user sees is a very standard Linux fs which won't mount, so Arch seems crudware.

Make Arch use ext4 for ext2 fs behind the scenes. Don't bomb over an ACCURATE fstab that says ext2. Right now, Arch reports ext2 as an unknown filesystem.

Needless breakage gives Arch a false public image of instability. Old ext2 is too important to write off. By the way, even Tso himself wishes to dump ext4 for btrfs. Today's "cool" is tomorrow's "has been." And ext2 doesn't the carry patent problems of FAT, which can affect its appearance in commercial settings. Biz people care little about fs quality, but much about time to market, embedded memory constraints, and breadth of os / tool support. We'd all like to see FAT disappear, but it's running on half the devices in your home, I wager. And hilariously enough, FAT is the single most cross-platform capable fs between the 3 big OS platforms (Mac/Win/Linux). Such is life. Of all the non-MS, Linux filesystems, the one with the most Win/Mac support is ext2.

P.S. I hope the netiquette is ok? It seemed more reasonable to post than reopen a ticket. The bug board needs some way to folloup closed items. Anyway, thanks to all for giving a hearing. I still of course consider Arch the best *nix distro bar none. Just trying to help the cause here!

2ManyDogs · 2012-09-17 22:44:27

Am I missing something? I have Arch installed on two machines. Both use an ext2 boot partition; it's coded that way in fstab, and it works just fine. I have several USB sticks with ext2 file systems on them. Arch is able to mount them and use them.

jasonwryan · 2012-09-17 22:56:34

DaveCode, please read the Etiquette entry on rants: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Fo … cs.2FRants

Like 2ManyDogs, I have no issues whatsoever with ext2 on Arch.

WonderWoofy · 2012-09-18 00:48:17

/dev/sdc1 on /mnt type ext2 (rw,relatime)

Whatcha talkin' 'bout Willis?

DaveCode · 2012-09-18 04:47:03

(jasonwryan, calm. Netiquette meant whether to reopen, not speak. Arch is touchy even flattered. If I scored unsettling points, well, ahem....I've sysadminned for donkey's years. The ticket desk won't allow followups and I was trying to be good by not reopening.)

To those who asked,

Linux <hostname> 3.5.3-1-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT <timedate> x86_64 GNU/Linux

failed on a udev hotswapped ext2 USB drive

mount -t ext2 ...

with message that ext2 is an unknown filesystem.

The same ext2 booted another box fine. I wasn't saying everything about ext2 is broken, but that Arch should never report ext2 as unknown filesystem. Both 'ext2' and 'auto' tags should 'just work' in all possible usages (fstab, manual console mount, DE auto-mount, whatever).

If I have some weird config causing a message others don't see (very possible, I just didn't think of it that way after ticket closure), then I would like to learn what. The sys is well maintained and standard. Stock Arch kernels all the way. If Arch devs never intended such a message to appear, then I may have found a bug and need to file a report. It may need some backtrack, as I already reformatted to UN-journaled ext4 just to use the device with Arch boxes.

Thanks all!

Arch Linux

#1 2012-09-17 22:26:20

ext2 redux

#2 2012-09-17 22:44:27

Re: ext2 redux

#3 2012-09-17 22:56:34

Re: ext2 redux

#4 2012-09-18 00:48:17

Re: ext2 redux

#5 2012-09-18 04:47:03

Re: ext2 redux

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