Ext3 or ReiserFS

[JadeWolf324]

im having a hard time deciding because i understand they are both journal Filesystems, and they both basically work the same and have the same features so could someone please help me decide which of these two is the better? its too hard to do on my own because i dont have experience with Reiser, only ext3. and i cant just go around changing filesystems as i please. so i need some advice.

help me out here. :wacko:

[MR_Candyman]

if you mainly are going to use small files, then reiserfs...if you are mainly going to use large files, then ext3. Supposedly ext3 makes windows transfers easier, though I havn't found it any easier. I always choose reiserfs because I mainly deal with small files

[MulletRobZ]

Always use Ext3 in case you need to access your Linux partition in Windows through Explore2FS. You can't do that properly with ReiserFS systems, not even with the RFSTOOL utility.

[Tek]

Always use Ext3 in case you need to access your Linux partition in Windows through Explore2FS. You can't do that properly with ReiserFS systems, not even with the RFSTOOL utility.

Not everyone is completely dependant on Windows.

[MrStaticVoid]

Always use Ext3 in case you need to access your Linux partition in Windows through Explore2FS.  You can't do that properly with ReiserFS systems, not even with the RFSTOOL utility.

...and not everyone has the same problem as you. RFSTOOL is designed for reading ReiserFS. I don't have Windows so I can't test it, but I find it hard to believe that a utility doesn't do what it is designed to do. If it didn't work for everyone I think the author would mention that on his page.

Anyhow, I use ReiserFS and never had a problem. It is extremely fast and I've never had any corruption, even through hard resets.

if you mainly are going to use small files, then reiserfs...if you are mainly going to use large files, then ext3. Supposedly ext3 makes windows transfers easier, though I havn't found it any easier. I always choose reiserfs because I mainly deal with small files

Remember that even though you may be transferring large movies every once in a while, most of the operating system is small files. Tiny cfgs in /etc, tiny libs in /usr/lib, tiny headers in /usr/include. These are the things that are used a lot without you really thinking about it.

Edited October 25, 2003 by Mr. Static Void

[MR_Candyman]

yep, I know Static Void. I was thinkiing about that too, but as a fair comparisson I decided not to mention that...but it is good to have it cleared up I guess aswell

[JadeWolf324]

well i have large files here and there does that mean i shouldnt use raiserFS? i have a few games and alot of applications and stuff. i use my computer as my home PC. so imagine i do regular home PC stuff with it, as well as run a webserver.

[MR_Candyman]

reiserfs does just fine with large files, but it's more tailored to small files, so it's optomized for them. ext3 is optimized for large files. Personally I liek to compromize with XFS a lot, but it's support is sometimes very limited with certain distros.

[JadeWolf324]

so then....i can use reiserFS just fine with all of the setup that i hav? i mean no slow downs or anything....i hear that its faster than ext3 which i like the idea of, i pretty much know i want to use ReiserFS but i want to make sure its a reliable and dependable as ext3.

[MulletRobZ]

...and not everyone has the same problem as you. RFSTOOL is designed for reading ReiserFS. I don't have Windows so I can't test it, but I find it hard to believe that a utility doesn't do what it is designed to do. If it didn't work for everyone I think the author would mention that on his page.

Anyhow, I use ReiserFS and never had a problem. It is extremely fast and I've never had any corruption, even through hard resets.

Well do you call not being able to copy the files from the ReiserFS partition to Windows a problem? I tried that command and it may create the directories, but the files are not present. :( And Tek, I just pointed that out in case if that person was going to dual-boot his system. Like if your Windows partition was Fat32, then copying from the ReiserFS partition to Windows can be done through Linux, but you can't do that with NTFS.

[JadeWolf324]

i dual boot yes, but barely ever enter.."the windows"...and i NEVER send things anyhow lol. so dont worry about that.

[rezza Veteran]

Well do you call not being able to copy the files from the ReiserFS partition to Windows a problem? I tried that command and it may create the directories, but the files are not present. :(

RFSTOOL has always worked just fine for me.

[Slayer]

Always use Ext3 in case you need to access your Linux partition in Windows through Explore2FS. You can't do that properly with ReiserFS systems, not even with the RFSTOOL utility.

This is why the Gentoo LiveCD is so beautiful, people. As long as you can boot from a CD, root access is practically waiting for you after the first few steps of the install guide (up to chroot).

[corrosive23]

reiser for boot partition, linux swap for swap (duh) and ext3 for storage. thats what the gentoo guide suggested so that is what i used.

[MrStaticVoid]

The Gentoo install guide said to make the boot ext3 and the root reiserfs. You should re-read it.

[corrosive23]

considering i havent even booted into gentoo in like 3 weeks because of a lack of a need to, you are right, its been a while since i read it

[JadeWolf324]

well i guess its pretty obvious what to do now. i will reformat once i get 9.2 and install ReiserFS on all of my linux partitions. thanx for the help all. :D