what for?

Story: Diskeeper Considering Linux, Mac OS X SupportTotal Replies: 13
Author Content
tuxchick

Apr 24, 2009
8:31 AM EDT
Linux filesystems don't need to be defragmented. Though this is a bit controversial, and for folks who think they do, ext4 comes with its own defragmentation command. The others I don't know as I only did a quick search. If this is an example of proprietary innovation, it's a good thing (for them) that there are a lot of suckers in the world who will buy anything.
phsolide

Apr 24, 2009
9:12 AM EDT
You beat me to it: NTFS (nee ODS-11) needs defragmenting because it does allocation of disk blocks in extents, which only a few (maybe only ext4) Linux filesystems do.

You forgot to mention two things: 1. Diskeeper has a history with defragmenting, in that it used to sell a similar product to VMS shops. 2. MSFT has heavily favored Diskeeper in the past, by only providing the defragmentation API to Diskeeper.
jsusanka

Apr 24, 2009
9:18 AM EDT
yeah this is a waste of money for Linux.

a) ext3 doesn't need it. don't know enough about ext4 yet.

b) this is why we partition our drives the way we do. we don't have one big fricken c drive where everything lives.

c) ext3 and the way it stores it files is efficient and defragging will cause more problems and headaches than it is worth.

but I am sure there are windows admins out there that have it burned into their brain to defrag and are now running linux servers and will convince their bosses to buy the product.
tuxchick

Apr 24, 2009
9:49 AM EDT
I know, ooo brainstorm! Let's sell a LXer-branded Linux secaurity and mainternance bundle: defrag, scandisk, anti-malware, crappy firewall, crappy insecure PPTP VPN, and all kinds of services that are wide-open to everyone but the actual user! We'll give it a happy name that appeals to brainwashed Windows users, like 'My Stuff I Bought Because They Said So'.

We'll bathe in riches, I tell you!
jacog

Apr 24, 2009
10:01 AM EDT
Superultramegasecure Pro Plus - Starter Edition
jdixon

Apr 24, 2009
10:18 AM EDT
> We'll bathe in riches, I tell you!

The worst thing is, that's probably true. Especially if you market it as the "Windows to Linux essential utilities package" or some such.

Oh, and don't forget to include the uninstaller utility, another Windows essential which new Linux users simply must have.

Anyone else got ones which need to be included?
Sander_Marechal

Apr 24, 2009
11:21 AM EDT
A EULA of course! And paid updates....
NoDough

Apr 24, 2009
11:28 AM EDT
>> We'll bathe in riches, I tell you!

I've been doing that for years. I prefer the older ditches with established plant life. They aren't as muddy.
phsolide

Apr 24, 2009
12:36 PM EDT
Yeah, linux anti-virus....

A little known fact about the "PCI DSS" (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard): it requires you to run an anti-virus on any server that you use to process credit card data.

That sort of demonstrates cluelessness on the part of the writers of the standard.
dinotrac

Apr 24, 2009
12:59 PM EDT
TC -

It is not true that you never have to defragment file systems.

Just yesterday, for example, I dropped a notebook on a hard tile floor. Fragmented my filesystems to bits. After a couple of hours and some Gorilla Glue, I was able to put them back together, but something that could make that job easier would be very useful.
gus3

Apr 24, 2009
2:04 PM EDT
XFS is extent-based. I think JFS is as well.

If you're putting your $HOME on an encrypted volume (if not, WHY NOT?!?), then defragmentation won't do much anyway. LUKS re-maps adjacent logical blocks into non-adjacent physical blocks.
tuxchick

Apr 24, 2009
3:08 PM EDT
Mmm mrph mmph

(translation: be careful to not get Gorilla Glue on your lips)
tracyanne

Apr 24, 2009
5:58 PM EDT
TC I'm always careful to keep my mouth away from nozzles that eject Gorrila glue.
dinotrac

Apr 24, 2009
6:02 PM EDT
ta --

Hmmm. Maybe we have hit on one of those cases where going for the gusto is not the right decision.

;0)

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