which file system should i use

Armed Nuke · 06-03-2008, 04:08 PM

i recently installed ubuntu but it gave me so many different file systems to choose from that i didn't know which one is the best. what would you recommend? i just installed it so i won't lose anything during a reinstall.

**wmorri** · 06-03-2008, 07:20 PM

Well, the two main file systems are: ext2, and ext3. These are similar to NTFS, and FAT32. The main difference is that these were developed for the *nix os only.

Also, you are going to need a swap file system.

Cheers!

Armed Nuke · 06-03-2008, 07:53 PM

i currently have ext2 i think. should i upgrade to ext3. i noticed that it wanted me to have a swap file system. i have 4gb ddr2sdram though so i didn't think i needed it. will i still need it?

lensman3 · 06-03-2008, 08:07 PM

Ext2 and Ext3 are exactly the same EXCEPT that ext3 is a journaling file system. So Ext3 is closer to NTFS (which is a journalling file system) and ext2 is closer to FAT32 (no journalling). Ext2 is a very much better FAT32. Journaling is where the disk can recover writes that weren't flushed before the power was cut. When Linux restarts after a power failure (or similar endoplasmic event) the disk (and files) are updated correctly. If you have to choose between ext2 and ext3, then pick ext3.

The other file system was probably "ReiserFS". This one too is a journaling file system. Go to "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReiserFS" for a good description. I have heard that a good reason to use this file system is for lots of very small files. It has better responsiveness and you can't run out of inodes. Unfortunately, Mr Reiser is currently in prison for killing his wife (or about to go).

Armed Nuke · 06-03-2008, 08:12 PM

thanks a million :) i think i'll go with ext3. i like ntfs much better than fat32....unless i'm gaming...i don't plan to do much gaming on ubuntu though :)

lensman3 · 06-03-2008, 08:18 PM

As far as a swap system, the answer is yes. Except Linux can use a file (instead of a partition) for the swap (like XP, Vista). So you can add a swap file system after the fact. You will need a swap file system from 1x to 2x times your ram. See the mkswap command.

You need to look at some of the FAQs. I think and ext2 file system can be turned into a ext3 file system, again after the fact. But you can't turn a ext3 back into a ext2 file system. I think there is a way to turn the ext2 into ext3 non-destructively so that the partition's data are not destroyed.

Armed Nuke · 06-03-2008, 08:25 PM

yeah i read that about the file systems when i looked them up. i'm still surprised about the swap file though. is it used for more than overflow memory?

lensman3 · 06-03-2008, 08:39 PM

Watch for ext4 file system. It is, I understand, in very late beta and is about to hit the Linux world. It is in most of the kernels as of 2.6.19, but is considered "use at your own risk".

Armed Nuke · 06-03-2008, 08:40 PM

k, i'll keep an eye out for it

06-03-2008, 04:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Armed Nuke Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 33 OS: Vista home premium SP1, Ubuntu	which file system should i use i recently installed ubuntu but it gave me so many different file systems to choose from that i didn't know which one is the best. what would you recommend? i just installed it so i won't lose anything during a reinstall.

06-03-2008, 07:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator Alt. Computing Join Date: May 2008 Location: /etc/pm Posts: 1,221 OS: Vista Basic SP1/Ubuntu 8.04/Fedora 10	Re: which file system should i use Well, the two main file systems are: ext2, and ext3. These are similar to NTFS, and FAT32. The main difference is that these were developed for the nix os only. Also, you are going to need a swap file system. Cheers! __________________ If I have posted on your thread and haven't replied within 48hrs please PM me. I will try to be as prompt as possible! Linux Forever!* Learning is doing, not being able to follow steps put forth by others. When posting what errors you get, please give the full message. It makes helping you much easier.

06-03-2008, 07:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
Armed Nuke Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 33 OS: Vista home premium SP1, Ubuntu	Re: which file system should i use i currently have ext2 i think. should i upgrade to ext3. i noticed that it wanted me to have a swap file system. i have 4gb ddr2sdram though so i didn't think i needed it. will i still need it?

06-03-2008, 08:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
lensman3 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Littleton, Colorado USA Posts: 455 OS: xp 64 sp2 Fedora Core 8 (vmware xp core 8 x32) Minix	Re: which file system should i use Ext2 and Ext3 are exactly the same EXCEPT that ext3 is a journaling file system. So Ext3 is closer to NTFS (which is a journalling file system) and ext2 is closer to FAT32 (no journalling). Ext2 is a very much better FAT32. Journaling is where the disk can recover writes that weren't flushed before the power was cut. When Linux restarts after a power failure (or similar endoplasmic event) the disk (and files) are updated correctly. If you have to choose between ext2 and ext3, then pick ext3. The other file system was probably "ReiserFS". This one too is a journaling file system. Go to "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReiserFS" for a good description. I have heard that a good reason to use this file system is for lots of very small files. It has better responsiveness and you can't run out of inodes. Unfortunately, Mr Reiser is currently in prison for killing his wife (or about to go).

06-03-2008, 08:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Armed Nuke Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 33 OS: Vista home premium SP1, Ubuntu	Re: which file system should i use thanks a million :) i think i'll go with ext3. i like ntfs much better than fat32....unless i'm gaming...i don't plan to do much gaming on ubuntu though :)

06-03-2008, 08:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
lensman3 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Littleton, Colorado USA Posts: 455 OS: xp 64 sp2 Fedora Core 8 (vmware xp core 8 x32) Minix	Re: which file system should i use As far as a swap system, the answer is yes. Except Linux can use a file (instead of a partition) for the swap (like XP, Vista). So you can add a swap file system after the fact. You will need a swap file system from 1x to 2x times your ram. See the mkswap command. You need to look at some of the FAQs. I think and ext2 file system can be turned into a ext3 file system, again after the fact. But you can't turn a ext3 back into a ext2 file system. I think there is a way to turn the ext2 into ext3 non-destructively so that the partition's data are not destroyed.

06-03-2008, 08:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
Armed Nuke Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 33 OS: Vista home premium SP1, Ubuntu	Re: which file system should i use yeah i read that about the file systems when i looked them up. i'm still surprised about the swap file though. is it used for more than overflow memory?

06-03-2008, 08:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
lensman3 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Littleton, Colorado USA Posts: 455 OS: xp 64 sp2 Fedora Core 8 (vmware xp core 8 x32) Minix	Re: which file system should i use Watch for ext4 file system. It is, I understand, in very late beta and is about to hit the Linux world. It is in most of the kernels as of 2.6.19, but is considered "use at your own risk".

06-03-2008, 08:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
Armed Nuke Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 33 OS: Vista home premium SP1, Ubuntu	Re: which file system should i use k, i'll keep an eye out for it