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== Summary ==
== Summary ==
Replace ext3 with ext4 as the default filesytem for anaconda-driven installs.
Make ext4 the default files system for anaconda-driven installs (replacing ext3).


== Owner ==
== Owner ==
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== Current status ==
== Current status ==
* Targeted release: [[Releases/11|  Fedora 11]]
* Targeted release: [[Releases/11|  Fedora 11]]
* Last updated: Jan-12-2009
* Last updated: 2009-04-17
* Percentage of completion: 90%
* Percentage of completion: 100%


== Detailed Description ==
== Detailed Description ==
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* Journal checksumming
* Journal checksumming
* Large (>2T) file support
* Large (>2T) file support
* Large (>16T) filesystem support (pending)
* Large (>16T) filesystem support (pending - post F11)
* Defragmentation support (really pending)
* Defragmentation support (really pending - post F11)


I do not propose offering migration from ext3 by default, at this point, due to bugs in that process, and extra risk involved.  Perhaps an "ext4migrate" boot option could be used to expose it for further testing.
I do not propose offering migration from ext3 by default, at this point, due to bugs in that process, and extra risk involved.  Perhaps an "ext4migrate" boot option could be used to expose it for further testing.
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== Dependencies ==
== Dependencies ==
Most is already in place; to some degree we depend on upstream fixing bugs and/or accepting bugfixes.  But we have kernel+userspace today which supports ext4.
Most is already in place; to some degree we depend on upstream fixing bugs and/or accepting bugfixes.  But we have kernel+userspace today which supports ext4.
* We should update grub to work on ext4; an untested, unintegrated patch exists.  We could live with ext3 boot, but that would be less tidy.
* NOTE - grub was not completed, but this is a minor issue overall.
* livecd-tools will need some minor tweaks for ext4 - done.


== Contingency Plan ==
== Contingency Plan ==
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== Documentation ==
== Documentation ==
http://ext4.wiki.kernel.org
* http://ext4.wiki.kernel.org
http://kernelnewbies.org/Ext4
* http://kernelnewbies.org/Ext4


== Release Notes ==
== Release Notes ==


<!-- The Fedora Release Notes inform end-users about what is new in the release.  Examples of past release notes are here: http://docs.fedoraproject.org/release-notes/ -->
* '''DRAFT''': Ext4 is now the default filesystem for anaconda driven installs.
<!-- The release notes also help users know how to deal with platform changes such as ABIs/APIs, configuration or data file formats, or upgrade concerns.  If there are any such changes involved in this feature, indicate them here.  You can also link to upstream documentation if it satisfies this need.  This information forms the basis of the release notes edited by the documentation team and shipped with the release. -->


== Comments and Discussion ==
== Comments and Discussion ==


* See [[Talk:Features/YourFeatureName]]  <!-- This adds a link to the "discussion" tab associated with your page.  This provides the ability to have ongoing comments or conversation without bogging down the main feature page -->
* See [[Talk:Features/Ext4DefaultFs]]  <!-- This adds a link to the "discussion" tab associated with your page.  This provides the ability to have ongoing comments or conversation without bogging down the main feature page -->
 


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[[Category:FeatureAcceptedF11]]


[[Category:FeaturePageIncomplete]]
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<!-- After review, the feature wrangler will move your page to Category:FeatureReadyForFesco... if it still needs more work it will move back to Category:FeaturePageIncomplete-->
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Latest revision as of 17:31, 17 April 2009


Feature Name

Ext4DefaultFs

Summary

Make ext4 the default files system for anaconda-driven installs (replacing ext3).

Owner

  • email: sandeen@redhat.com

Current status

  • Targeted release: Fedora 11
  • Last updated: 2009-04-17
  • Percentage of completion: 100%

Detailed Description

The ext4 filesystem has matured to the point where there is good e2fsprogs support, and upstream has shifted from "ext4dev" to "ext4." To broaden exposure, and make new ext4 features & performance more widely available, I propose that we make ext4 the default filesystem for new installs.

Benefit to Fedora

The ext4 filesystem has more features and generally better performance than ext3, which is showing its age in the Linux filesystem world. Features include:

  • Delayed allocation & mballoc allocator for better on-disk allocation
  • Sub-second timestamps
  • Space preallocation
  • Journal checksumming
  • Large (>2T) file support
  • Large (>16T) filesystem support (pending - post F11)
  • Defragmentation support (really pending - post F11)

I do not propose offering migration from ext3 by default, at this point, due to bugs in that process, and extra risk involved. Perhaps an "ext4migrate" boot option could be used to expose it for further testing.

Scope

This is mainly a simple (should be...) change for Anaconda's default choice. Anaconda already has ext4 support; it's a question of making it default now.

Bugs are sure to be found and exposed; these will require kernel & userspace fixes.

How To Test

As far as "Default install on ext4" is concerned, this is the same testing as is currently done for ext3 installs.

User Experience

User should notice generally better performance, and benefit from things like persistent preallocation when using updated torrent clients, etc.

Dependencies

Most is already in place; to some degree we depend on upstream fixing bugs and/or accepting bugfixes. But we have kernel+userspace today which supports ext4.

  • We should update grub to work on ext4; an untested, unintegrated patch exists. We could live with ext3 boot, but that would be less tidy.
  • NOTE - grub was not completed, but this is a minor issue overall.
  • livecd-tools will need some minor tweaks for ext4 - done.

Contingency Plan

We can revert to ext3 as default if things go poorly.

Documentation

Release Notes

  • DRAFT: Ext4 is now the default filesystem for anaconda driven installs.

Comments and Discussion