malebolgia Veteran Posted February 6, 2004 Veteran Share Posted February 6, 2004 I was wondering today what tools/commands are used to checkup on Linux. For example there are several tips and tools used to increase the performance of Windows, check for errors on HD, defragment the HD, and so on. When it comes to the Linux side I'm not aware (still learning) of any such commands or tools that do the same thing/more. It may not be necessary, but I always like to keep whatever computer I'm using in tip top condition. If you know of any commands or tips that are useful please share the wealth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rezza Veteran Posted February 6, 2004 Veteran Share Posted February 6, 2004 Well, the HD errors are handled by the fact that linux uses true journalling filesystems, so they are constantly checking for errors in a way, and if anything untoward was detected you'd know about it (and your disk would fsck itself on next boot) and as for fragmentation, etc, its never really an issue in linux because the filesystems are so well designed, and they do a certain amount of built-in de-fragging just during normal operation. So filesystem-wise, there's really not much you need to do to keep it in good condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Derf Veteran Posted February 6, 2004 Veteran Share Posted February 6, 2004 I was wondering today what tools/commands are used to checkup on Linux. For example there are several tips and tools used to increase the performance of Windows, check for errors on HD, defragment the HD, and so on. When it comes to the Linux side I'm not aware (still learning) of any such commands or tools that do the same thing/more. It may not be necessary, but I always like to keep whatever computer I'm using in tip top condition. If you know of any commands or tips that are useful please share the wealth. If you really want performance under Linux then you need to compile your own applications and use a source-based distro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malebolgia Veteran Posted February 6, 2004 Author Veteran Share Posted February 6, 2004 If you really want performance under Linux then you need to compile your own applications and use a source-based distro. I'm using Gentoo Linux :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betasp Posted February 6, 2004 Share Posted February 6, 2004 Actually, the latest benchmarks show that Gentoo has little to no speed advantage when pitted against other packaged distos like Mandrake, Slackware and Red Hat (RIP). Just remember to install only the programs and packages you need on install, that is the best way I have found. You can always check out Powertweak at http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=253. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjordan2001 Posted February 6, 2004 Share Posted February 6, 2004 No need to defragment, and it'll automatically check itself after so many reboots or days (whichever comes first) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuRReaL Posted February 6, 2004 Share Posted February 6, 2004 The Acorn ARM systems NEVER fraged as its file system was chip based :p and it defragged as it was writing :) but hey those days of efficient computers have gone :s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malebolgia Veteran Posted February 6, 2004 Author Veteran Share Posted February 6, 2004 No need to defragment, and it'll automatically check itself after so many reboots or days (whichever comes first) I wish this feature was in XP :cry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordHatrus Posted February 6, 2004 Share Posted February 6, 2004 well, It won't check it self even after, say, 3 million days, if you never reboot.... :rolleyes: A lot of people only reboot for the latest kernel :) (though, that said, I hope EVERYONE updates their kernel before 3 million days have past....... please......) :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted February 6, 2004 Veteran Share Posted February 6, 2004 fsck If you want to perform a check on a disk, this is the command. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MulletRobZ Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 Linux always runs good on my machine. But if you have an NVidia video card, make sure you install the NVidia Drivers for maximum performance. On my GeForce4 MX 420, the performance increased like a hundred times, but DVD's play a bit crappy. Then again, I'll save up for a new DVD ROM since the one I have is a bit awkward, even in Windows as a friend tried it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pagal Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 Actually, the latest benchmarks show that Gentoo has little to no speed advantage when pitted against other packaged distos like Mandrake, Slackware and Red Hat (RIP). Just remember to install only the programs and packages you need on install, that is the best way I have found. You can always check out Powertweak at http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=253. mind pointing us to the 'benchmarks' you are referring to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Candyman Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 I'd also like to see these benchmarks...Slack is the most similar non-gentoo one I think there is, speed-wise. Gentoo does have pretty significant speed increases though...and to compare Gentoo with Red Hat and MDK is sacrilege. Red Hat and MDK run horribly slow in comparisson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MulletRobZ Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 Slack sure runs faster than Mandrake, I can tell you that, but some parts in setting that up are a b****! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordHatrus Posted February 8, 2004 Share Posted February 8, 2004 btw, If I remember from the last time I compiled the kernel, It's not the # of times you reboot and the # of days, its the # of times you MOUNT that particular partition and the # of days since last check :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaKeY Posted February 8, 2004 Share Posted February 8, 2004 You can also do hdparm to make sure you're getting maximum performance outta your hard drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malebolgia Veteran Posted February 8, 2004 Author Veteran Share Posted February 8, 2004 You can also do hdparm to make sure you're getting maximum performance outta your hard drive. Would my 700Mhz, 256MB system benefit from it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaKeY Posted February 8, 2004 Share Posted February 8, 2004 Would my 700Mhz, 256MB system benefit from it? Depends on your hard drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malebolgia Veteran Posted February 8, 2004 Author Veteran Share Posted February 8, 2004 Depends on your hard drive. My Linux box is at work so I'm not sure right now, but all I can remember is that I think it has only 15GB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kemical Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 i posted some info on hdparm in the how-to section :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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