Ext4 file system how to, tips and tricks

Ext4 file system (4th extended file system) is the next generation of journaling file systems, retaining backward compatibility with the previous file system, ext3. Ext4 was released as a functionally complete and stable filesystem in Linux kernel 2.6.28. Ubuntu 9.04 aka Jaunty Jackalope was released with support for the ext4 file system, so do many latest builds of many other Linux distributions.

One of the most evident advantages of ext4 for end users is the drastic reduction in time taken to do an fsck operation of your hard drives. The other advantages of ext4 file system over ext3 are - it provides better performance and greater reliability. Also it increases the maximum file system size to a whooping 1 exabyte. Compared to this, ext3 supports a maximum of only 16 TB of file system size.

So it was inevitable that I chose ext4 as the file system when I installed Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jakalope on my machine - dual booting between Windows XP and other Linux distributions. And I had no complaints at all.

Then recently, Microsoft released Windows 7 RC to the public for testing, which was too tempting an offer to pass off. And so I diligently downloaded the Windows 7 OS and installed it on my machine. Of course, as with all things Microsoft, Windows 7 wiped off my GRUB menu on MBR. Repairing the MBR would be a clinch until I realised that to mount the ext4 file system, you need to have a Live distribution which supports ext4. So I was unable to re-install the GRUB menu to the MBR because the Live CD of the Linux distribution I used could not detect the ext4 file system on my hard disk.

Fortunately, I still had a CD with Ubuntu 9.04, which I used to re-install GRUB boot loader on my machine.

Bottom line : A drive with ext4 file system cannot be mounted within older Linux distributions as they don't have support for ext4.

To know more about Ext4, read the following resources ...

• Ext4 Wiki
• Creating an Ext4 file system
• Converting Ext3 to Ext4 file system
• Anatomy of Ext4 file system

CDS-100-S10 Sun Solaris 10 Essentials CBT

The Sun Solaris 10 Operating System Essentials training video tutorials provides students with the knowledge and skills to use UNIX commands and basic Solaris OS commands. This product is for new users of the Solaris OS. Students learn fundamental command-line features of the Solaris OS, including file system navigation, file permissions, the vi text editor, command shells, and basic network use.Students who can benefit from this course are those unfamiliar with the UNIX operating system, new users of the Solaris 10 OS, and system administrators who want to be certified in the Solaris 10 OS.



Skills Gained :-



Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:-



* Use the desktop and online documentation

* Use command-line features

* View and search files and directories

* Change the Solaris directory contents

* Use the vi editor

* Use basic file permissions

* Use commands within the Korn shell

* Perform basic process and job control

* Perform remote connections and file transfers

* Create archives

* Compress files, uncompress files, and view compressed files

Rapidshare Link

CDS-100-S10 Solaris 10 Intermediate Administration CBT

The Intermediate System Administration for the Solaris 10 Operating System training video tutorials provides students with the knowledge and skills to perform essential system administration tasks in the Solaris OS, including stand-alone installation, file system management, backup procedures, process control, user administration, and device management.

Students who can benefit from this course bundle include system administrators who perform essential system administration procedures in the Solaris OS.



Skills Gained :-



Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:



* Describe the Solaris OS directory hierarchy

* Manage local disk devices

* Manage the Solaris OS file system

* Perform mounts and unmounts

* Install the Solaris 10 OS

* Perform package administration

* Manage patch administration on the Solaris 10 OS

* Identify boot PROM fundamentals

* Perform booting and shutdown procedures

* Manage system services

* Perform user administration

* Set file system security

* Configure printer services and use print commands

* Control system processes

* Perform file system backups and restores

* Back up a mounted file system by using a UFS snapshot

Rapidshare Link

CDS-202-S10 Solaris 10 Advanced Administration CBT

The Advanced System Administration for the Solaris 10 Operating System course expands your mastery of the most advanced operating system on the planet, Solaris 10. In this class, you gain hands-on experience working with more complex and integrated administration concepts, and build upon your experience from the Part 1 course. You will be instructed in essential system administration skills including: configuring network interfaces, managing swap configurations, crash dumps, and core files, configuring NFS and AutoFS. Other topics covered include managing storage volumes and ZFS file systems, configuring system messaging, setting up naming services, and managing Solaris Zones. This course helps you to prepare for Sun System Advanced Administration certification exam.



Skills Gained :-



Upon completion of this course, students should be able to :-



* Describe network basics and the client-server model

* Manage crash dump behavior and core file behavior

* Manage swap configuration

* Configure NFS and AutoFS

* Describe RAID and Solaris Volume Manager software concepts

* Configure Solaris Volume Manager software

* Configure RBAC

* Configure system messaging

* Configure naming service clients

* Configure NIS

* Configure a global zone

* Create and destroy basic ZFS file system structures

Rapidshare Link

CDS-300-S10 Solaris 10 Network Administration CBT

The Network Administration for the Solaris 10 Operating System training product provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to plan, create, administer, and troubleshoot a local area network (LAN). Students will learn about networking, configuration, and troubleshooting as well as Internet Protocol (IP) routing, Domain Name Service (DNS), Dynamic Host Configuration (DHCP), and the Solaris IP Filter firewall.Students who can benefit from this course are experienced system administrators who are or will be responsible for administering Sun systems in a Solaris OS that is networked, which includes LANs and Solaris OS systems.



Skills Gained :-



Upon completion of this course, you should be able to :-



* Describe the TCP/IP model

* Describe LANs and their components

* Describe Ethernet interfaces

* Describe ARP and RARP

* Configure IP

* Configure multipathing

* Configure routing

* Configure IPv6

* Describe the Transport layer

* Configure DNS

* Configure DHCP

* Configure NTP

* Configure Solaris IP Filter firewall

Rapidshare Link