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masinick
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 Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2025 2:59 pm Post subject: Ext4 is part of the Linux 2.6.28 kernel |
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It looks like there is a good chance that the Ext4 file system will begin to appear in at least some distributions during 2025, and by 2025, it ought to be widespread, and hopefully the default file system by then. Between now and then, there are a number of things that will need to happen:
1. The version of GRUB provided will need to be updated to support the Ext4 file system.
2. The Linux kernel used will need to support the Ext 4 file system.
Both of these activities are underway.
| Quote: | | Ext4 is the evolution of the most used Linux filesystem, Ext3. In many ways, Ext4 is a deeper improvement over Ext3 than Ext3 was over Ext2. Ext3 was mostly about adding journaling to Ext2, but Ext4 modifies important data structures of the filesystem such as the ones destined to store the file data. The result is a filesystem with an improved design, better performance, reliability and features. |
Ext4 from Linux Kernel Newbies |
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tlmiller
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| Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2025 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm sure I'll try it out as soon as it's available.
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Germ
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| Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2025 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Interesting...I had enough problems when ext3 went from 128 to 256 byte inodes. I certainly don't need ext4. Hopefully ext3 will stick around for a good long while.
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tlmiller
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| Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2025 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Considering EXT2 is still around with how long EXT3 has been out, I think we can assume EXT3 will still be available for years and years and years to come.
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masinick
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| Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2025 5:18 pm Post subject: It will be a while, but it will be a good one eventually |
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| Germ wrote: | | Interesting...I had enough problems when ext3 went from 128 to 256 byte inodes. I certainly don't need ext4. Hopefully ext3 will stick around for a good long while. |
I do not think that ext4 will be forced upon anyone for a while, but once it becomes commonplace and the necessary tools can support it, I think we will start seeing it a lot.
The kernel is only starting to offer partial support. The boot loaders are just starting to include support. It will be a while before all of that is sorted out. The first stable release is available, though, so things will begin to pick up. By the time ext4 is widely available, it ought to be pretty solid.
Like anything else, when you first migrate, there can be issues to overcome. These things will all be taken care of in time. Early adopters need to be good troubleshooters, and we need such people. But as things sort themselves out, I believe that we will end up with a file system capable of carrying the Linux payload for up to a decade. |
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masinick
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| Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2025 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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| tlmiller wrote: | | I'm sure I'll try it out as soon as it's available. |
That is what will be needed - people willing to try it out, sort out the quirks, get them resolved, and turn it into a really robust file system that not only stores data reliably, but also includes clean migration from ext3, good detection by boot loaders, support by the kernel, useful tools to identify and resolve issues, and all the infrastructure necessary to support it. No small task, but the experts are up to it and have done it before many times. I will certainly work with it, too, once there are systems capable of supporting it. I'll start on test hardware first, so that any issues do not cause unintended consequences. As the stuff matures, I am sure that three or four years from now, most of my systems will be using it routinely. |
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ghostdawg
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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| So, is anybody using it yet? If so, any comments about it?
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masinick
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 9:46 pm Post subject: Could be done, but it'd take a fair amount of work |
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| ghostdawg wrote: | | So, is anybody using it yet? If so, any comments about it? |
I have not tried it yet. I know that kernel support is imminent. After that, we will start to see rollouts of ext4 in use.
Should I get into a situation where I have a fair amount of extra testing time, I'd like to look into trying out this file system. Even test versions ought to be usable enough that they should not seriously corrupt systems, but I could be wrong. I would imagine that it would take a bit of doing to set up this file system if not integrated into the kernel already. Would involve recompiling a kernel with the ext4 support included - not a huge deal, but it would involve some searching for the right base code and the right extensions, then actually building the kernel to support ext4, then migrate from one file system to another, not exactly trivial work. |
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tlmiller
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 10:26 pm Post subject: |
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| I haven't checked if it's avaialble yet, but sidux is using a 2.6.28 kernel now.
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platinummonkey
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tlmiller
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| Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2025 2:12 am Post subject: |
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| make an .iso avaiable, I'd love to check it out!
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masinick
Linux Guru
Joined: 03 Apr 2025
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| Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2025 3:08 am Post subject: Software REUSE! |
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| tlmiller wrote: | | make an .iso avaiable, I'd love to check it out! |
Ditto! I'd do it if I had the time, but software REUSE is GREAT, hence why I love FREE software! |
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crouse
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platinummonkey
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crouse
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Yes... i'm that crazy 
