[mythtv-users] Fragmentation On Recording Disk?

Donald Webster fryfrog at gmail.com
Thu Apr 5 12:33:16 UTC 2007


> Surely in this case the filesystem doesn't know when `dd` starts
> writing its file how much it is going to want to write out, so surely
> the big file of zeros will likewise end up fragmented into several
> parts?

The reason the 'dd' would sort of work is that it would *very quickly*
(as fast as the system will let it) allocate all those 0's to the
disk.  So yes, it could still be fragmented.  But the (relatively)
short time period vs. the duration of a 30,60 or 90 minute show means
it would be less fragmented.  But dd would work for the simple reason
that it totally rapes the system while its running, and if you re-nice
it to not rape it... it'll just take longer and longer, resulting in
the same sort of fragmentation.

Its better to just defrag if you need it... or not worry about it if
it isn't causing problems.
-- 
AIM: fryfrog
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WWW: http://www.fryfrog.com


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