E2fsprogs
Encyclopedia
e2fsprogs is a set of utilities for maintaining the ext2
, ext3
and ext4
file system
s. Since those file systems are often the default for Linux distribution
s, it is commonly considered to be essential software.
Included with e2fsprogs are:
Many of these utilities are based on the libext2fs library.
Despite what its name might suggest, the e2fsprogs work not only with ext2 and ext3 but also with ext4. Although ext3's journaling
capability can reduce the need to use e2fsck, it is sometimes still necessary to help protect from kernel bugs or bad hardware.
With ext4 the e2fsck runtime should come down considerably.
As the userspace companion for the ext2, ext3, and ext4 drivers in the Linux kernel
, the e2fsprogs are most commonly used with GNU
/Linux
. However, they have been ported to other systems, such as FreeBSD
and Darwin
.
Ext2
The ext2 or second extended filesystem is a file system for the Linux kernel. It was initially designed by Rémy Card as a replacement for the extended file system ....
, ext3
Ext3
The ext3 or third extended filesystem is a journaled file system that is commonly used by the Linux kernel. It is the default file system for many popular Linux distributions, including Debian...
and ext4
Ext4
The ext4 or fourth extended filesystem is a journaling file system for Linux, developed as the successor to ext3.It was born as a series of backward compatible extensions to ext3, many of them originally developed by Cluster File Systems for the Lustre file system between 2003 and 2006, meant to...
file system
File system
A file system is a means to organize data expected to be retained after a program terminates by providing procedures to store, retrieve and update data, as well as manage the available space on the device which contain it. A file system organizes data in an efficient manner and is tuned to the...
s. Since those file systems are often the default for Linux distribution
Linux distribution
A Linux distribution is a member of the family of Unix-like operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel. Such distributions are operating systems including a large collection of software applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, media players, and database applications...
s, it is commonly considered to be essential software.
Included with e2fsprogs are:
- e2fsck, a fsckFsckThe system utility fsck is a tool for checking the consistency of a file system in Unix and Unix-like operating systems such as Linux.-Use:...
program that checks for and corrects inconsistencies - mke2fs, used for creating ext2, ext3 and ext4 file systems
- resize2fs, which can expand and shrink ext2, ext3 and ext4 file systems
- tune2fs, used to modify file system parameters
- dumpe2fs, which prints superblock and block group information.
- debugfs, used to manually view or modify internal structures of the file system
Many of these utilities are based on the libext2fs library.
Despite what its name might suggest, the e2fsprogs work not only with ext2 and ext3 but also with ext4. Although ext3's journaling
Journaling file system
A journaling file system is a file system that keeps track of the changes that will be made in a journal before committing them to the main file system...
capability can reduce the need to use e2fsck, it is sometimes still necessary to help protect from kernel bugs or bad hardware.
With ext4 the e2fsck runtime should come down considerably.
As the userspace companion for the ext2, ext3, and ext4 drivers in the Linux kernel
Linux kernel
The Linux kernel is an operating system kernel used by the Linux family of Unix-like operating systems. It is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software....
, the e2fsprogs are most commonly used with GNU
GNU
GNU is a Unix-like computer operating system developed by the GNU project, ultimately aiming to be a "complete Unix-compatible software system"...
/Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
. However, they have been ported to other systems, such as FreeBSD
FreeBSD
FreeBSD is a free Unix-like operating system descended from AT&T UNIX via BSD UNIX. Although for legal reasons FreeBSD cannot be called “UNIX”, as the direct descendant of BSD UNIX , FreeBSD’s internals and system APIs are UNIX-compliant...
and Darwin
Darwin (operating system)
Darwin is an open source POSIX-compliant computer operating system released by Apple Inc. in 2000. It is composed of code developed by Apple, as well as code derived from NeXTSTEP, BSD, and other free software projects....
.
External links
- e2fsprogs home page at SourceForgeSourceForgeSourceForge Enterprise Edition is a collaborative revision control and software development management system. It provides a front-end to a range of software development lifecycle services and integrates with a number of free software / open source software applications .While originally itself...
- e2fsprogs git repository
- Design and Implementation of the Second Extended Filesystem