Ext3 users - Jan 2005 - Does ext3 file system use a '.journal' file?

Greetings,

I recently cpio-ed some user directories onto a new ext3 partion.

After putting this file server's partition into production, I noticed a
.journal
file in the root directory of the partition dated well before the creation of
this partition.

I think this .journal file was copied over from the old filesystem and I am
concerned that I over-wrote this current filesystem's .journal file and this
file system will explode the next time I reboot.

I have also seen some non-definitive reference to ext3's journal being
hidden.

My questions:

Does ext3 use a .journal file or is it hidden?

If it DOES use a .journal file, can I rebuild it on the fly? i.e., while the
file system is in production?

I'm on the  2.6.10 kernel.

Thanks,

-jeffrey

> Does ext3 use a .journal file or is it hidden?
Both.  It's supposed to be hidden when mounted as EXT3, but you can see 
it when mounted as EXT2.
> If it DOES use a .journal file, can I rebuild it on the fly?
Yeah, just mount it as EXT2.  Then delete the .journal file, and use 
tune2fs to rebuild a new one.  You should then be able to unmount and 
remount as EXT3 just fine.

Joseph D. Wagner