ext4 filesystem

[pevsner]

Hi,
I have the 2.6.30.4 kernel running from Uelsk8s test in repos.
Can I convert my ext3 partitions to ext4?
If so, any suggestions on the best way to do it? I got the following from the ext4 wiki.

To enable the ext4 features on an existing ext3 filesystem, use the command:
# tune2fs -O extents,uninit_bg,dir_index /dev/DEV
WARNING: Once you run this command, the filesystem will no longer be mountable using the ext3 filesystem!
after running this command (specifically, after setting the uninit_bg parameter), you MUST run fsck to fix up some on-disk structures that tune2fs has modified:
# e2fsck -fpDC0 /dev/DEV

Thanks in advance.

[M0E-lnx]

You need more than just the kernel to fully support ext4. I would recommend you try out the SOHO 6 which has full support for it.

[pevsner]

I am running the vl6 standard gold atm.
I have not been a great fan of kde really, although Kde 4.3 looks good. So I would really like to get ext4 on my current system. Does this require building addition kernel modules, and ....other extras?

[M0E-lnx]

It involves building other delicate things like dbus, e2fsprogs, util-linux-ng, etc

See here http://vlcore.vectorlinux.com/trac/vlcore/wiki/FileSystem/Ext4
When we were implementing this in SOHO 6, I recall b0rking my installation a couple of times, but you may have better luck

Basically, your kernel has to support it, and then
e2fsprogs has to be rebuilt so you can perform the conversion/formatting
dbus has to be rebuilt (I dont know why)
util-linux-ng has to be rebuilt for you to be able to mount the filesystem.

[pevsner]

Thanks Moe,

I may have a go on a separate vl6 partition. It sounds as though ext4 is quite a bit faster.
Presumably 6.1 will have it included?

[M0E-lnx]

Most users will not really notice the speed difference, unless you deal with incredibly large files on a regular basis.
SOHO 6.0 has it included, and I presume every release after this will too.