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EXT4 Data Corruption Bug Hits Linux Kernel

An anonymous reader writes "An EXT4 file-system data corruption issue has reached the stable Linux kernel. The latest Linux 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 stable kernels have an EXT4 file-system bug described as an apparent serious progressive ext4 data corruption bug. Kernel developers have found and bisected the kernel issue but are still working on a proper fix for the stable Linux kernel. The EXT4 file-system can experience data loss if the file-system is remounted (or the system rebooted) too often."

4 of 249 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Reinventing the wheel by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I have to agree with you. This is one of the best demos of ZFS around :)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGIwg6ye1gE

    ZFS solves 3 problems by taking a wholistic approach:

    * Volume Management
    * File System
    * Data Integrity

    Instead of fragmenting the problem into 3 layers which only have limited access and knowledge by using a unified layer you have more meta-information available to make smarter decisions.

    Some interesting essays:

    https://blogs.oracle.com/bonwick/entry/raid_z
    https://blogs.oracle.com/bonwick/en_US/entry/rampant_layering_violation

  2. Re:Summary is wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This appears to be untrue. My latest tests suggest that it happens if a single unclean umount happens while the fs is mounted in 3.6.3. (At least, I saw corruption in /var after a single boot, followed by a rescue boot into 3.6.1 and fsck: every filesystem that had journal replay invoked also had corruption.)

      -- N., original reporter, not much enjoying his fifteen minutes of fame since it comes with happy fun filesystem corruption attached: captcha is 'contrite', how appropriate

  3. Re:Reinventing the wheel by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 4, Interesting

    > Blame SUN, they choose a license for ZFS to ensure it never had proper in kernel linux support.

    That's a myth / blatant lie.

    Fork Yeah! The Rise and Development of illumos
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-zRN7XLCRhc#t=1460s

    Why You Need ZFS
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F9bscdqRpo
    @5:40 I just want to clarify you comment "It would be illegal to ship"
    @5:45 I think there is a perception issue that we need to tackle.
    @5:55 One point that I would like to make because I think said earlier that I think we have much more in common then that separates us.
    @5:58 One of the most important things we all have in common is we are all open source systems.
    @6:02 And we need to end this self inflicted madness of open source licensing compatibility.
    @6:12 I think that it is a boogey man and we letting it us hold us back.
    @6:19 You say it would be illegal to ship. I say no one has standing
    @6:24 The GPL was never ever designed to counter-act other open source licenses.
    @6:33 That is a complete rewrite of history to believe the GPL was designed to be at war with BSD or with Cuddle.
    @6:39 The GPL was at war with properiety softwware. And thank the GPL and Stallman open source won.
    @6:45 That is the whole point. Open source won.
    @6:49 We are pissing on our own victory parade by not allowing these technologies to flow between systems.

  4. Re:Low impact by tirnacopu · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I got bit by this one: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925308 on volumes with hundreds of thousands of small files. All who had a size multiple of 4kb were corrupted.