The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Warning: Possible loss of data using Ext4 filesystem

    Discussion in 'Linux Compatibility and Software' started by The Fire Snake, Mar 12, 2009.

  1. The Fire Snake

    The Fire Snake Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    426
    Messages:
    2,889
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I just read this interesting article today. Looks like there are a few situations where you might lose data on an Ext4 filesystem.
     
    The Fire Snake, Mar 12, 2009
    #1
  2. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

    Reputations:
    1,338
    Messages:
    5,202
    Likes Received:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Great find ! +rep

    That's scary ala windowish...they need to get all over that like a cheap suit :D
     
    theZoid, Mar 12, 2009
    #2
  3. visiom88

    visiom88 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    631
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I think it's better to stay away from Ext4 since it was released only 4-5 months ago. There might be something even scarier than this that has not been found. :wideeyed:
     
    visiom88, Mar 12, 2009
    #3
  4. proxima_centauri

    proxima_centauri Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    59
    Messages:
    196
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    For what it's worth I've been using ext4 since Jan09 and I am quite pleased with the performance and stability thus far.
    [knock on wood]
    (From my very, extremely, prelimary investigation into this - It doesn't appear to be an ext4 issue, but rather an issue with how some applications are programmed.)
     
    proxima_centauri, Mar 12, 2009
    #4
  5. zephyrus17

    zephyrus17 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    646
    Messages:
    1,576
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I've jumped on ext4 as well. And it's quite fast and stable. No problems as for now. I don't think they'd release the format unless they were certain that it was 99% ok
     
    zephyrus17, Mar 12, 2009
    #5
  6. The Fire Snake

    The Fire Snake Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    426
    Messages:
    2,889
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I don't know. I don't mind testing new/bleeding edge stuff unless it has to do with my data, thats where I draw the line. Ext4 looks real promising but I will wait till it gets more mature. I usually like for anything(hardware/software/electronics) to get a bit mature before I go for it.
     
    The Fire Snake, Mar 12, 2009
    #6
  7. zephyrus17

    zephyrus17 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    646
    Messages:
    1,576
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Well, I have the precaution of copying all my files into my external 2.5" as well. And that's in NTFS, so i've got all bases covered
     
    zephyrus17, Mar 12, 2009
    #7
  8. proxima_centauri

    proxima_centauri Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    59
    Messages:
    196
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Like I said it's not an issue of ext4 being mature enough, it's due to the incorrect way some applications are programmed to save data (developers got too used to the way ext3 does things).

    Either way, I understand this reason is enough for someone not to use ext4, but it should be understood that this in no way is a fault or bug of ext4 itself.
     
    proxima_centauri, Mar 13, 2009
    #8
  9. The Fire Snake

    The Fire Snake Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    426
    Messages:
    2,889
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Oh I see. It is the developers that need to catch up. Either way too risky for me, I am scared :p ;)
     
    The Fire Snake, Mar 13, 2009
    #9
  10. Charr

    Charr Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    415
    Messages:
    1,564
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I have had my / and /usr on Ext4 for four months now, and have had zero problems. I have /home on Ext3, but I don't know for how much longer.
     
    Charr, Mar 14, 2009
    #10
  11. Thomas

    Thomas McLovin

    Reputations:
    1,988
    Messages:
    5,253
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    It's in the general public now, bugs will arise but It's being worked on a lot of course.
     
    Thomas, Mar 14, 2009
    #11