[Linux-disciples] Defragging a Linux box?

[Dylan Thurston]

On Thu, Feb 12, 2004 at 08:30:48AM -0500, Stephen R Laniel wrote:
> I assume Linux filesystems need to be defragged just like any
> other filesystem, right? Files get read and written out of
> random blocks, leaving bits of files scattered all over the hard
> drive. The disk head will have to move all over the disk to read
> the file.
> 
> Is my reasoning correct? If not, what's different about ext2/3?
> If so, which defragger do you use?

This happens to a very, very limited extent on ext2/3.  Basically, the
DOS FAT file system is extremely bad about preventing fragments, and
ext2/3 follows the BSD file system in using a number of tricks to
prevent fragmentation, including requiring that some percentage of the
disk remain free at all times.

Except in very unusual circumstances, this is not something to worry
about: the lifetime of your disk is less than the time it takes to
become significantly fragmented.

Peace,
	Dylan
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