-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bob
Barton
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 3:16 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: AFS on XFS or ext3?

I certainly don't want to start any flame wars about choosing between
ext3 of XFS.
One reason I was thinking of using XFS was because recently when I set
up an ext3 system, during the setup a note popped up that an fsck would
be forced on the file system after 180 days. Having to take down a
crucial resource for a long period to do an fsck on 2TB of ext3 file
system every 1/2 year is certainly unattractive! I know there are ways
to change this default using tune2fs but I am uncertain what the
implications of doing so are.
My previous experience with AFS file servers has been with AIX3.x -
AIX4.x and Solaris 9 and I essentially turned the systems on and left
them alone for years (literally - they went down whenever the building
power failed for some reason or other). I am hoping that XFS would have
similar characteristics.


======

From my experience with ext3, the fsck takes place upon the first reboot
that takes place 6+months after that pop-up. It doesn't watch it's
wristwatch, say it's been 6 months, and do an fsck (THAT would be
annoying).  So, it waits for a power-fail or shutdown, when disk service
is normally not expected.

If an ext3 fs is mounted read-only (like my /usr partition) fsck never
runs on it at reboot, no matter what.

My systems, also, are left running for years; and they're located in
charming get-aways like Kazakhstan: irate users are to be avoided at all
costs.
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