fsck.ext3 takes more than 6 hours ! How to speed that up ?

saavik · 07-14-2009, 08:50 AM

Hello!

My server with 2 TB ext3 Filesystem needs more than 6 hours to make a filesystemcheck.

Now i expand the time between the filesystemchecks to 6 months but never the less i have to wait more than 6 hours until the filesystemcheck is finisched.

Question:

1) Does anybody else have this "problem"
2) Any ideas how to speed that up ? Please do not suggest an other Filesystem ;-) And the filesystem also can not be splitted !

Thanks

bhaslinux · 07-14-2009, 03:29 PM

what is the underlying hardware ?
what is the size of the filesystem you are refering here ?

babel17 · 07-14-2009, 08:24 PM

assuming you created your filesystem with

Code:

mke2fs -j <args>

, use

Code:

mke2fs -O <args>

and

Code:

tune2fs -J <args>

to move the journal to a separate device. This will massively cut down on disk thrashing when doing an fsck.

Assuming you have a separate device to move it to.

I apologize for not giving more detail, but it's been a while since I've done it and I don't remember all the details. especially how to calculate the appropriate size for the journal.

avalonit · 07-14-2009, 11:14 PM

That's a known problem for large file systems AFAIK. Besides moving the journal, which is always a win, you can try ext4 from fedora 11.

As well you could turn checking completely off and rely on back-ups and/or regular manual fsck in the times where you won't be using the computer.