CentOS - Mar 2007 - What's the best way to convert a whole set of file systems?

I am currently running a Windows XP system at home with around 100+ Mb
in use over ~400Mb of NTFS file systems.  I am installing CentOS 4.4 on
it when I change out the mobo/cpu/mem/video combo I just bought.  I want
to convert all the file systems to (probably) Reiserfs or maybe ext3,
but I need to do them one at a time because I only have enough transfer
space to accommodate the largest one, or at least that's my belief.
That would mean at least two copies per partition converted, and I have
six partitions to convert, from ~14Gb to over 85Gb (in one, only - the
rest are 30Gb or smaller).

 

1)       Is there a good way to do whole fs conversions, specifically
from NTFS to reiserfs or ext3?

 

2)       Do I even need to do this (i.e., do any of the CentOS/Linux
kernels support read AND write to NTFS)?

 

3)       Is there, by any chance, and in-place converter from NTFS to
any Linux fs, preferably reiserfs or ext3?

 

Also, the last time I installed CentOS on a system (I've done about six
or seven so far) I don't remember seeing reiserfs as one of the
supported fs's for configuring during the installation process - am I
blind or is this really the case?  I like reiserfs primarily because it
is really good with many small files, and I have tons of them - around
100k files under 10k.

 

Thanks.

 

mhr

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On 3/14/07, Mark Hull-Richter <mhull-richter at datallegro.com>
wrote:
> 1)       Is there a good way to do whole fs conversions, specifically from
> NTFS to reiserfs or ext3?
Not while maintaining data.

>
> 2)       Do I even need to do this (i.e., do any of the CentOS/Linux
kernels
> support read AND write to NTFS)?
>
No, and NTFS writes are not something I'd consider a good idea.
>
> 3)       Is there, by any chance, and in-place converter from NTFS to any
> Linux fs, preferably reiserfs or ext3?
>
Nope.
>
> Also, the last time I installed CentOS on a system (I've done about six
or
> seven so far) I don't remember seeing reiserfs as one of the supported
fs's
> for configuring during the installation process ? am I blind or is this
> really the case?  I like reiserfs primarily because it is really good with
> many small files, and I have tons of them ? around 100k files under 10k.
Reiserfs isn't supported in RHEL or centos (except in centosplus). I'd
also suspect it's being reconsidered in the kernel proper also, given
the legal issues and current imprisonment of the reiserfs maintainer.


-- 
During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.
George Orwell

Mark Hull-Richter wrote:
>
> I am currently running a Windows XP system at home with around 100+ Mb 
> in use over ~400Mb of NTFS file systems.  I am installing CentOS 4.4 
> on it when I change out the mobo/cpu/mem/video combo I just bought.  I 
> want to convert all the file systems to (probably) Reiserfs or maybe 
> ext3, but I need to do them one at a time because I only have enough 
> transfer space to accommodate the largest one, or at least that?s my 
> belief.  That would mean at least two copies per partition converted, 
> and I have six partitions to convert, from ~14Gb to over 85Gb (in one, 
> only ? the rest are 30Gb or smaller).
>
>  
>
> 1)       Is there a good way to do whole fs conversions, specifically 
> from NTFS to reiserfs or ext3?
>
>  
>
> 2)       Do I even need to do this (i.e., do any of the CentOS/Linux 
> kernels support read AND write to NTFS)?
>
>  
>
> 3)       Is there, by any chance, and in-place converter from NTFS to 
> any Linux fs, preferably reiserfs or ext3?
>
>  
>
> Also, the last time I installed CentOS on a system (I?ve done about 
> six or seven so far) I don?t remember seeing reiserfs as one of the 
> supported fs?s for configuring during the installation process ? am I 
> blind or is this really the case?  I like reiserfs primarily because 
> it is really good with many small files, and I have tons of them ? 
> around 100k files under 10k.
>
>  
>
the only major distribution that really supports reiser natively is SuSE

10k bytes isn't really a small file, < 512 bytes is small, and where 
both NTFS and Reiser's trick of hiding small files directly in the 
directory entries may give some benefit.

in place format conversion is a nightmare waiting to happen.       I'd 
fully backup a disk before even attempting that, even assuming any such 
tools exist (afaik, they don't).    once its backed up, its probably 
faster to restore this backup to the new format rather than attempting 
any sort of conversion.

frankly, I'd build a new computer, install Linux on it, then copy the 
files across the network.   when done, recycle the old computer for 
parts, or sell it intact as is (its probably worth more as a working 
system than as parts).

Mark Hull-Richter wrote:
> I am currently running a Windows XP system at home with around 100+ Mb
> in use over ~400Mb of NTFS file systems.  I am installing CentOS 4.4 on
> it when I change out the mobo/cpu/mem/video combo I just bought.  I want
> to convert all the file systems to (probably) Reiserfs or maybe ext3,
> but I need to do them one at a time because I only have enough transfer
> space to accommodate the largest one, or at least that's my belief.
> That would mean at least two copies per partition converted, and I have
> six partitions to convert, from ~14Gb to over 85Gb (in one, only - the
> rest are 30Gb or smaller).
> 
>  
> 
> 1)       Is there a good way to do whole fs conversions, specifically
> from NTFS to reiserfs or ext3?
Why reiserfs? RH doesn't support it at all in its RHEL series. It's no 
longer default in OpenSUSE (I'm not completely sure of SLES/SLED).

ext3 is generally a sane selection.
> 
>  
> 
> 2)       Do I even need to do this (i.e., do any of the CentOS/Linux
> kernels support read AND write to NTFS)?.
I think rw support is available now in some distros.
> 
>  
> 
> 3)       Is there, by any chance, and in-place converter from NTFS to
> any Linux fs, preferably reiserfs or ext3?
Highly dangerous at best.
> 
>  
> 
> Also, the last time I installed CentOS on a system (I've done about six
> or seven so far) I don't remember seeing reiserfs as one of the
> supported fs's for configuring during the installation process - am I
> blind or is this really the case?  I like reiserfs primarily because it
> is really good with many small files, and I have tons of them - around
> 100k files under 10k.
It is really the case. RH employs at least one ext4 specialist, declines 
to do so for any other Linux filesystem. I expect SUSE to follow this path.


The _best_ way to convert is to use another disk. That way, if something 
fouls up, you get another chance. The _best_ way to read NTFS is with 
Windows. The _safest_ way to convert is to read in Windows, transfer to 
Linux and write.

You can do this on a network, you can possibly run Linux under virtual 
PC (a free download now, does not require special CPUs, can boot a 
standard bootable CD or (I think) ISO image), you could use tar under 
windows (needs cygwin).





-- 

Cheers
John

-- spambait
1aaaaaaa at coco.merseine.nu  Z1aaaaaaa at coco.merseine.nu

Please do not reply off-list

Mark Hull-Richter spake the following on 3/14/2007 12:03
PM:
> I am currently running a Windows XP system at home with around 100+ Mb
> in use over ~400Mb of NTFS file systems.  I am installing CentOS 4.4 on
> it when I change out the mobo/cpu/mem/video combo I just bought.  I want
> to convert all the file systems to (probably) Reiserfs or maybe ext3,
> but I need to do them one at a time because I only have enough transfer
> space to accommodate the largest one, or at least that?s my belief. 
> That would mean at least two copies per partition converted, and I have
> six partitions to convert, from ~14Gb to over 85Gb (in one, only ? the
> rest are 30Gb or smaller).
> 
>  
> 
> 1)       Is there a good way to do whole fs conversions, specifically
> from NTFS to reiserfs or ext3?
> 
>  
> 
> 2)       Do I even need to do this (i.e., do any of the CentOS/Linux
> kernels support read AND write to NTFS)?
> 
>  
> 
> 3)       Is there, by any chance, and in-place converter from NTFS to
> any Linux fs, preferably reiserfs or ext3?
> 
>  
> 
> Also, the last time I installed CentOS on a system (I?ve done about six
> or seven so far) I don?t remember seeing reiserfs as one of the
> supported fs?s for configuring during the installation process ? am I
> blind or is this really the case?  I like reiserfs primarily because it
> is really good with many small files, and I have tons of them ? around
> 100k files under 10k.
Are you replacing XP? If so, back up the files you want to keep (a cd should
hold it all if you zip it first if there are many small files), install linux,
and restore the files from cd.

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