*BSD News Article 39410


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From: nate@bsd.coe.montana.edu (Nate Williams)
Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.questions
Subject: Re: File system under FreeBSD 2.0
Date: 13 Dec 1994 04:07:09 GMT
Organization: Montana State University, Bozeman  Montana
Lines: 55
Message-ID: <3cj6ld$7ks@pdq.coe.montana.edu>
References: <60.10006.5307.0N1C3549@canrem.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: bsd.coe.montana.edu

In article <60.10006.5307.0N1C3549@canrem.com>,
Barnaby Ng <barnaby.ng@canrem.com> wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>I'v never used FreeBSD before and like to get the release 2.0. What
>kinds of file systems are available under this release? What I'm looking
>for is something like this:-
>
>- No maximum file size limit. I'm using OS/2 right now and the HPFS file
>  system has a 2GB limit (per file), and I have files that are bigger
>  than this.

Theoretically there is no limit, but I believe early testing in the
release showed some old bugs lying around which made > 2GB partitions
break.  I *think* -current has these fixed.


>- No maximum limit on disk size supported. I know the OS has to reside
>  on a partition within the first 1024 cylinder. OS/2 does not like
>  disks that are > 2GB. I can only use my 2.7 GB Seagate drive for date
>  only, OS/2 won't let me install on this drive, even if I create a
>  partition within the first 1024 cylinder.

None.

>- Fast, very fast indeed, especially with so many BIG files.

Try it and see.  It depends on how you access your data.  Certain FS
types are faster than others, and there is no 'one true solution' for
all users.  The BSD FFS is pretty fast.

>- Allow a file to span across two or more physical disks.

Nope.

>- Reliable. OS/2's HPFS has its limitation, but it is VERY reliable. I
>  never lost a single file, not even after a system crash, not even
>  after a virus attack.

If you have good hardware, then you will have a pretty reliable system.
But, no system is immune to corruption.  If I turn ANY machine off with
a standard FS (HPFS included) in the middle of heavy disk accesss
something is going to get corrupted.  It may be noticed, but data will
be lost.

The BSD FFS has long had a good reputation for file system reliability.


Nate

-- 
nate@bsd.coe.montana.edu     |  FreeBSD dude and all around tech.
nate@cs.montana.edu          |  weenie.
work #: (406) 994-5980       |  Unemployed, looking for permanant work in
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