[mythtv-users] EXT3 problems?

[Robert Dege]

If you think ext3 is your problem, you can try 2 things:

1) Disable access time stamps on your storage partition (add noatime in
the fstab file for the desired partition).

2) use ext2 instead.  ext3 is backwards compatible with ext2.  You'll lose
journaling (whole point of using ext3), but it might result in a slightly
faster Disk IO.

You can also try using XFS instead.  It works much better with large file
Disk IO.  I've had problems in the past with disk corruption when using
XFS, but it's probably been fixed since then.


If you're having Disk IO problems, and are only using 40-50% of your CPU,
why not use MPEG4 instead?  It produces smaller files, but taxes the CPU
more.

-Rob

> Hi there,
> I seem to remember some comments regarding problems with EXT3 and periodic
> thrashing of the hard drive, yet I can't find anything in the archives.
>
> When recording, picture is fine. When watching live TV or watching a
> recording, I get a disconcerting pause in the video every couple of seconds
> or so. The hard disk activity light only briefly illuminates every second or
> so (hardly busy!). I'm using EXT3 for storage, and it seemed that somebody
> had a similar problem some time ago.
>
> Some details:
>
> Recording: 480x480 RTJPEG @ quality 200
> Audio: MP3 @ 44.1kHz.
>
> 1.6 GHz Athlon XP
> 40Gb IBM Deskstar - HD parms show DMA + 32-bit ON (~35.1Mb sustained
> transfer rate) (it's a quick little bugger!). Linux and ringbuffer on same
> partition. (I know, but my wife needs Windows on the other disk!)
> 512Mb memory.
> Redhat 7.3.
> TWM window manager (for testing purposes). I've also killed all other
> processes that are dispensable.
>
> While recording/playback, TOP shows CPU between 40-55% on average for
> X/mythbackend/mythfrontend in total.
>
> By reducing to 352x288, the problem all but vanishes, but is still there in
> a lesser form.
>
> Am I trying to push my machine too hard? Performance tips?
>
> Regards,
> Ralph
>
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Dege

So Many Things in Life Would Be Really Funny
.... If They Weren't Happening To Me