[mythtv-users] EXT3 problems?

[pixel at hourglassone.com]

>From recent experience, I'd suggest that you stick with ext2/ext3 instead
of moving to xfs or reiserfs, for two reasons:

1. ext2/3 seems to be the only fs that supports bad block tables.
2. if you're running into issues, best not to add another component to the
equation.

Another note: Journalizing should only add overhead when writing to disk
(at least, that's the theory).  If you're doing multiple recordings, you
might take a pretty big performance hit.  I've got my system on ext3 with
a XP 2500+, and I'm not seeing too big a drain, tho.

Best of luck.
Aaron

On Tue, 27 May 2003, Robert Dege wrote:

>
> 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
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