hi

is defragmentation required in the linux filesystem ext2/ext3
because i read it somewhere in the forum that defragmentation is not required in these filesystem
as it is required in windows for fat32 and ntfs


but recently i checked out this url which tell about defragmenting the linux fileysystem

http://e2fsprogs.sourceforge.net/ext2.html

so i am not able decide whther it is right to use this softare,if yes then do we have such for linux

also how safe are these softwares to use from windows,i am sure about this


pl. help

regards
gaurav

Linux uses a swap partition so the file system on your hard disk does not get fragmented. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

AFAIK the swap partition has nothing to do with fragmentation. Normally one does not need to defragment a linux filesystem. When an ext2/ext3 filesystem is created 5% (by default) is reserved for root. From what I have read this helps keep fragmentation down and allow root to login in case the filesystem becomes full.

hi
yes,swap has nothing to do with defragmentation
we have swap in differemnt partiton whiule we have a swap(virtula memory) in windows too but there is not a different partiton,so then too winsows FS get defragmented
i
i think it is because of the nature of the FS that files get fragmented on a particular FS
and is not the nature of the exct3/ext2 FS to get fragmented

also is the above mentioned link usefulll or not????


regards
gaurav

Disk drives in windows get fragmented because
(1) the Virtual memory/Swapfile is not permanent by default
(2) The fat/fat32/NTFS filesystems do not implement any code to minimise fragmentation.
(3) When you save a file in windows, the OS starts to save it in the first available space on the disk, and when it gets full, it jumps to the next available space.

As far as I know, (which might not be that far, please correct me if i'm wrong...) the ext2/ext3 filesystem drivers for Linux contain code that checks to see if writing a file to disk will cause it to become fragmented. If it would be split into pieces then the code checks for another contiguous space on the disk which means that the filesystem will become more fragmented the fuller it gets, but not to the same extent as fat/fat32/NTFS. There isn't really much need of a defragmenter for an ext2/ext3 disk.

hi

so it safe to use the above mentioned driver to defragment linux partitions from windows???

what about degramneting from linux itself????

regards
gaurav

there really is no need to defragment on linux although, that's not to say that the linux filesystem doesn't fragment - it does, just not to the extent as windows filesystems do. those proggies seem to already be included in linux distros. they're dangerous to run on a fully mounted filesystem. if you're using an ext3 filesystem, just power down your computer using the power button and do a filesystem check on the reboot (which is prompted automatically, you just have press the 'Y' key). i've personally have never seen anymore than 2% file fragmentation on my linux box after extended use - windows (running winME) on the other hand fragments at about 6-8% (c: drive) for the same amount of use.

Seeing how your running FC2 you probably already have the latest version installed. The website does not mention defragmenting a linux partition from windows. The driver is for read / write to an ext2 partition.

BTW I wouldn't intentionally remove power from the computer just to run fsck.

hi there

thanks for correcting me
i was actually confused with ext2fs and dump
i thought that is too for windows....

so i do not think i should try that too..
fcsk is ok

regards

neither would i. but if you're really anal and using a journaled filesystem, it doesn't hurt anything at all to do a hot power down. the chances of you corrupting your filesystem are slim to none.

on the journalling FS i think i have support for that in the kernel 2.6 and the FC2
and i have also compiled my kernel with that also
so no worries for me
i guess!!!!!!!!!


regards
gaurav