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[Offtopic] Re: How to fsck read-only-mounted root filesystem?

To: linux xfs ml <linux-xfs@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Offtopic] Re: How to fsck read-only-mounted root filesystem?
From: nic <nic@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2001 11:17:35 +0000
Envelope-to: <linux-xfs@xxxxxxxxxxx>
In-reply-to: <4.3.2.7.2.20011206090743.02e72ed0@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
References: <4.3.2.7.2.20011206073426.035a3d88@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> <4.3.2.7.2.20011206090743.02e72ed0@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sender: owner-linux-xfs@xxxxxxxxxxx
> At 22:48 5-12-2001 -0800, Dan Hollis wrote:

> >Suprised in the respect that ext2 and reiserfs have no such limitation, I
> >was expecting xfs to be at least as functional and mature.

> >Seems a bit silly to have to do it at all, I can see this being a 'show
> >stopper' bug for some.

You may find this a bit odd, but commercial Unices[1] have often had quirky 
means to repair the essential filesystems and more dependencies at boot time. 
But then they came on better firmware (eg. OpenBoot) so you could set up 
alternative devices, etc.

Steve mentioned that Irix (and Solaris, and I think AIX) all use miniroot, 
under which one mounts the old filesystems and fixes them or upgrades the 
operating system, etc.

The LBT (and indeed if you don't need the full 
power/convenience/vendor-neutraility of lbt, the SGI installation CD) give 
you the same means of fixing your root fs as big, expensive Unix boxes have 
used for years. It may not be as convenient for you, but it works and has 
been used on some of the most expensive Unix machines in the world - your 
implication that is XFS immature given its roots and these facts would seem 
to be an inaccurate remark.

Perhaps you should consider setting up a spare disk (or possibly just a 
partition) from which you can boot with a root partition on it. This would 
save you installing a CD drive.

Ordinary x86 BIOSes don't provide much help for when the primary HD fails 
(though obviously some do) so better hardware will make this easier.

[Any technical inaccuracies not related to Linux or XFS in this mail should 
be sent to me off-list].

nic

Footnotes:
[1] OK, Irix and Solaris - I've only had minimal experience with a few of the 
others.


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