Topic: Is it possible to install SME onto ext2?

[zntrx]

I've just started (literally) playing with sme and would like to install onto an ext2 partition. Is this possible? I've not done any digging yet but have tried removing the journal & editing fstab but this give me a kernel panic until I reinstate the journal.

[Stefano]

hi

you can't simply install SME into a ext2 partition.. it will create partitions and format them during setup..

so.. just a question.. or two:
- why?
- what are you trying to do?

Ciao
Stefano

[zntrx]

I realise that the install process wipes the disk, what I want to know is whether the install process can be altered to create ext2 partitions or if the install can be modified to use ext2 post install.

Reason? I want to spin down the disk which AFAIK can't be done with a journal...

[CharlieBrady]

I realise that the install process wipes the disk, what I want to know is whether the install process can be altered to create ext2 partitions or if the install can be modified to use ext2 post install.

Reason? I want to spin down the disk which AFAIK can't be done with a journal...

You will lose a lot of reliability if you remove the journal.

You don't need to change the install process. You can downgrade the filesystem from ext3 to ext2 after installation.

[zntrx]

You will lose a lot of reliability if you remove the journal.

You don't need to change the install process. You can downgrade the filesystem from ext3 to ext2 after installation.

Thanks, that was the answer I'm looking for.

At present I'm not worried about reliability as this isn't in any way an important server.

To downgrade is it simply a matter or removing the journal (with tune2fs) & running mkinitrd?

[CharlieBrady]

At present I'm not worried about reliability as this isn't in any way an important server.

And your time is not important, when it fails?

To downgrade is it simply a matter or removing the journal (with tune2fs) & running mkinitrd?

Neither should be required. Just edit /etc/fstab and reboot.

[Stefano]

in his first post, OP said that

I've not done any digging yet but have tried removing the journal & editing fstab but this give me a kernel panic until I reinstate the journal.

Stefano

[zntrx]

And your time is not important, when it fails?

That's about the height of it. I've had a SUSE box running in this role on Ext2 for going on 5 years and I consider the hassle dealing with disk problems over this time worth it for the silent system that has resulted (at least until solid state disks become usable/affordable).

[zntrx]

in his first post, OP said that

I've not done any digging yet but have tried removing the journal & editing fstab but this give me a kernel panic until I reinstate the journal.

I had not at this point run mkinitrd so am guessing that this probably caused the kernel panic. Will try the above advice tonight...

[CharlieBrady]

in his first post, OP said...

Sorry, I missed that.

Kernel panics vary. The details matter. It's hard to diagnose without having the details.

Yes, I'd guess that running mkinitrd after changing fstab might make a difference.