Ext3 or Ext4 and Partitions issue

And is it better Ext4? Does it worth it?

Do you recomend me to have home and systemfiles in separate partitions?

Thanks a lot!

You can convert to ext4 if you use jaunty or karmic. You do not get the full benefits of ext4 if you convert and will only get the full benefit with a format then place the files on the new partition. If ext3 is working for you, why fix it.

What is the difference between ext 3 and ext4?

There's quite a few arguments going on about this. Some are saying that Ext4 is the best thing ever but plenty of others are saying to stick with Ext3 even on new installs <shrugs> it's often the way when something so relatively new appears and we've all got used to and learned to trust the existing one.

It is quite a good idea to have your /home on a separate partition but it can be quite technically challenging to do that although there are guides around to help somewhere. Something to save up for the next time you install a linux-system because it's all much easier during install.

If you have a particular need to change the setup you currently have then we can try to help but really for both of these issues i would echo ActionParsnips advice "If it aint broke then why fix it?". A question worth asking is "What problem would doing these things solve?" - of course in linux-land a valid answer is "Curiosity" or "Because it's there" ;)

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ext4

I have been reading about it to. In my Dutch language though. It´s in experimental fase as I read. It´s not faster as ext3, not everything anyway. I just wait. Don´t want to mess with my system now.

It will be default in karmic but it has grown a lot (ALWAYS check dates on publications badmouthing stuff, if its old its probably because its young/experimental)

ext4 is still journalised but gives more speed over ext3, there are other filesystems that Linux can use also like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XFS but no one uses it in Ubuntu (rightly so) as the defaults are sufficient for the average level of an Ubuntu user.

There have been reports of data loss on hard shutdowns but I will be using ext3 for all installs as it is tried and tested and is not slow on my system. People have also reported faster boot times but this doesnt affect me as my low power systems are on 24/7.

Yes, i've heard that ext4 is significantly faster now at certain functions but people are still wary of it's long-term stability for data - the only real test being to wait and see what happens as it gets used by normal users in the real world lol

I've heard that reiserfs is also an excellent system but might be worth steering clear of for a few years as the project team leader is away for a while. Although existing systems should be fine i wouldn't setup a new one except for fun and curiosity - at least until it becomes clear what's happening with their project team.

It´s late here in China, so I´ll reinstall everything tomorrow. Have nothing to do any way. I´ll see what happens.

Good luck and don't forget you can always add one more to a dual-bot (space permitting) ;)
G'nite Rob
Regards from
Tom :)

Ok thanks guys...

I think I'm gonna try the Ext4...or may be not. Hahaha, I wanna do it because I'd like to learn about Linux and PC's...Ok, once done, I'll backup my data on DVD's (I'v already asked for a track loaded with DVD's)

I wanna know the how to of separating the home and filesystem...but I made another question for that purpose, and Tom is right there helping (thanks, Tom...you rule).

So, thanks a lot for your help!!

Thanks Dave Lentz, that solved my question.