30 days with JFS

oli · 2007-09-14 12:14:00

http://www.linux.com/feature/119025

It's not a scientific test-suite, but it's at least a hint in the proper direction.

While my improvised crash tests were not a good simulation a busy server, JFS did hold up well, and recovery time was fast. All file-level applications I tested, such as tar and rsync, worked flawlessly, and lower-level programs like Truecrypt also worked as expected.
After 30 days of kicking and prodding, I have a high level of confidence in JFS, and I am content trusting my data to it. JFS may not have been marketed as effectively as other alternatives, but is a solid choice in the long list of quality Linux filesystems.

dr_te_z · 2007-09-15 21:07:23

Great. JFS get the attention it deserves. I use JFS longer than I use linux (remember OS/2?). I've used JFS on Slackware as well and when I installed Arch I was very happy with the standard support. In all tests you see that XFS beats the whole world except JFS. I use JFS together with XFS, but JFS is my main FS

 
[dick@R50p ~]$ df -HT
Filesystem    Type     Size   Used  Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/hda4      jfs      12G   7.6G   3.5G  69% /
none         tmpfs     1.1G      0   1.1G   0% /dev/shm
/dev/hda5      jfs      12G   3.5G   8.4G  30% /var/hda5
/dev/hda3      xfs     5.3G   4.4G   859M  84% /home
tmpfs        tmpfs      68M      0    68M   0% /home/dick/tmp
tmpfs        tmpfs     2.2G    13k   2.2G   1% /tmp
[dick@R50p ~]$

And whenevey your in trouble it is nice to know that Knoppix knows JFS.

But, typical, when IBM builds you a linux/DB2 server they use ext2. Just standard SLES configuration.
Deja-vu: back in the 90-ties.
IBM divisionX: OS/2 is the best there is
IBM divisionY: yes we sell IBM P.C's. They come wiht windows preinstalled...

smurnjiff · 2007-09-15 21:26:00

I read that review also - it was pretty interesting.

iBertus · 2007-09-16 03:56:53

I've been using JFS as my default FS for all partitions for almost a year now. Both my laptop and desktop are setup this way. I've yet to have a single issue that wasn't somehow my fault. So, I can say that JFS is a pretty solid filesystem and it also is more CPU efficient than most other filesystems.

Gullible Jones · 2007-09-16 04:24:59

JFS is pretty good in my experience. However, it has suffered for a while from an extremely bizarre problem wherein small files that have been recently written *disappear* after a crash. At first I thought this was due to aggressive caching, but it happens to files that are definitely on the hard drive... In fact, it happened to me once this week, causing the loss of Epiphany's GUI config and browser history (the GUI had been configured several days previously).

Oh, don't worry, I'm fairly sure my hard drive isn't dying; this doesn't happen under any other filesystems, and there's no other weird behavior... I have experienced even more spectacular stuff on dying hard drives with JFS though. On a failing Western Digital drive, I saw half the config files in /etc/ vanish following a hard reboot.

So yeah, my general impression is that it's a good filesystem for desktops and laptops, but not very trustworthy when it comes to preserving the integrity of small files.

Last edited by Gullible Jones (2007-09-16 04:26:25)

oli · 2007-09-16 13:43:21

How many crashes are you experiencing during the week?

Gullible Jones · 2007-09-16 21:31:44

One. Not really a crash - X locked up and I had to do a hard reboot, since I don't have a machine to SSH in from.

wuischke · 2007-09-17 08:23:45

In case of a X freeze, you can try this: http://fosswire.com/2007/09/08/fix-a-fr … ysrq-keys/

More information is here: http://linux.about.com/od/linux101/l/blnewbie5_1.htm

Last edited by wuischke (2007-09-17 08:24:45)

Gullible Jones · 2007-09-19 03:12:05

Yeah, I know about that. You won't find servers using SysRQ though, since it's insecure and all (no duh), and the filesystem should never be losing written files like that anyway if it's on a healthy HDD.

(Also, X shouldn't be so damn prone to freezing solid like that, but that's what you get with 16 million lines of complex code.)

Last edited by Gullible Jones (2007-09-19 03:12:52)

Gullible Jones · 2007-09-19 20:40:21

Well after the latest hard reboot (something screwing up with suspend), JFS has fried my pacman binary - the file command now shows it as "empty". I frankly don't know what the hell causes this, but it only happens with JFS... So I'm going to heavily recommend that people *avoid* this filesystem anywhere where data loss would be a big problem, until the bugs are ironed out.

iBertus · 2007-09-19 21:41:53

Strange. I've had lots of problems with hard lockups with my HP notebook (it's BIOS is broken) and so far JFS hasn't lost any of my files. Yes, I do loose the currently un-synced data but that is all I've noticed.

ConnorBehan · 2007-09-25 02:29:52

I originally wanted my whole drive to be JFS due to its low power consumption and the age of this laptop. After that I got turned on by some reiser4 benchmarks and planned out how to install reiser4. I then changed my mind at the last minute and installed resier3 on / and JFS on /home. I don't want to try reiser4 until I get a new computer. This is my only computer and if the HDD wiped, I'd be pretty pissed. Anyway, my /home directory runs very smoothly so I like JFS even if I only have a minimal amount of my drive using it.

kensai · 2007-09-25 02:52:22

I have had power failures with JFS and everything still runs great after hard reboots or suddenly power going out. In Fact JFS is what I use and trust the most.

Arch Linux

#1 2007-09-14 12:14:00

30 days with JFS

#2 2007-09-15 21:07:23

Re: 30 days with JFS

#3 2007-09-15 21:26:00

Re: 30 days with JFS

#4 2007-09-16 03:56:53

Re: 30 days with JFS

#5 2007-09-16 04:24:59

Re: 30 days with JFS

#6 2007-09-16 13:43:21

Re: 30 days with JFS

#7 2007-09-16 21:31:44

Re: 30 days with JFS

#8 2007-09-17 08:23:45

Re: 30 days with JFS

#9 2007-09-19 03:12:05

Re: 30 days with JFS

#10 2007-09-19 20:40:21

Re: 30 days with JFS

#11 2007-09-19 21:41:53

Re: 30 days with JFS

#12 2007-09-25 02:29:52

Re: 30 days with JFS

#13 2007-09-25 02:52:22

Re: 30 days with JFS

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