Filesystem and disk layout performance on 0.1B4

[Joao Cardoso]

While I don't compile the bonnie++ disk benchmark, here are the results of a simple file copying test I made.

The simple test involves copying 105 files, most of small size (40 to 800KB) and 21 medium sized files (10 to 25 MB), totaling 500MB, from a directory to 20 different destination directories, thus reading 10GB and writing 10GB,

FS      disk            time    test n

ext2    left            10m 58s 1
ext3    left            13m 13s 2
ext4    left            11m 30s 3

ext4    usb             15m 20s 4

ext4    raid0 (l+r)     7m 52s  5
ext4    raid1 (l+r)     15m 14s 6
ext4    raid5 (l+r+u)   16m 30s 7

ext4    raid1 (l+u)     15m 14s 8

What conclusions can we take from *this* particular test?

Tests 1, 2 and 3:
===============
ext2 is the fastest filesystem, but given the small difference to ext4, and the superior characteristics of ext4, ext4 is the right choice.

Tests 3 and 4:
=============
We also see that the difference between using an internal disk or an usb disk is not that big.

Tests 5, 6 and 7:
===============
raid 0 is the fastest, as expected, but given its low data security, it should only be used for special situations.

The surprise comes from the comparison between tests 6 and 7: raid5, running on two internal disks plus an external usb disk, is almost as fast as raid1 running on the two internal disks. So, raid5 should be an option to consider when you want raid (you also get more space)

Tests 6 and 8:
=============
Running raid1 with two internal disks or with one internal and one external disk translates in the same performance. This is confirmed with the raid5 results.

Tests 3, 6 and 7:
===========
Raid is obviously slower and as is more difficult to administer than a standard disk if problems arise, it should only be considered when availability is a must.

[GabrieleV]

Awful !
Didn't know that ext3 was so slow compared to ext2 ...
Ok, I'll convert ext3 to ext4, that is the fastest in fsck.

[Stealth]

Hello,

There is a way to convert ext3 -> ext4 with Alt-F ?

Thank

[Joao Cardoso]

On Thursday, September 27, 2012 6:56:00 PM UTC+1, Stealth wrote:

Hello,

There is a way to convert ext3 -> ext4 with Alt-F ?

Yes. Disk->Filesystem->New FS Operations, select ext4 under New FS, then Convert under Operations.

As the Filesystem online help says: New FS Operations allows to use the Operation menu so you can Format the device with a new filesystem (loosing all data it contains) or Convert the current filesystem to a new format, keeping its data; you have first to select the new filesystem using the New FS selection.

Only new files will benefict from the new fs capabilities; for existing files to benefict,  you have to use the 'chattr' command line program. For examples, search  for "Migrating files to extents" in the  Migrating_a_live_system_from_ext3_to_ext4_filesystem article (Alt-F does it all but this last step, as I don't have personal experience using it -- can anybody endorse a 'chattr -R +e /mnt/<fs>', so I will use it on RC3?)

Thank

[FredB]

Works perfectly ! Alt-F is really awesome

[Stealth]

Argh !
I made a big mistake.. how can I fix it ?

I converted the disk two without problem, but after that I also converted the first disk and now my dns 323 can't boot I have a pink led in right slot, and the dlink webpage for formated my two drives ...

I suppose I can't convert the first disk in ext4 with Alt-f

Thank

[Stealth]

Good new I can access to the HDD with my linux computer

more /media/8a19613a-cdd4-4bfd-9e38-bfa2b44cd932/Alt-F/etc/fstab
#
/dev/sda1 none swap pri=1 0 0
/dev/sdb1 none swap pri=1 0 0
/dev/sdb2 /mnt/sdb2 ext4 defaults 0 0
/dev/sdb4 /mnt/sdb4 ext4 defaults 0 0
/dev/sda2 /mnt/sda2 ext4 defaults 0 0
/dev/sda4 /mnt/sda4 ext4 defaults 0 0

For the moment, I change nothing I will wait your instruction

[Joao Cardoso]

You have not flashed Alt-F, the convertion option for ext4 should be disabled (or a warning appear saying that the new fs would not be recognized by the vendor firmware - didn't it? If not, please fill-in an issue report, as it is a bug).

Your second option is to convert the disk to ext2 (or ext3, as some recent dlink firmware vwrsions recognize it) using your linux box. You have to search for and follow instructions elsewhere.

Your first option is to flash Alt-F :)

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[Stealth]

You have not flashed Alt-F, the convertion option for ext4 should be disabled (or a warning appear saying that the new fs would not be recognized by the vendor firmware - didn't it? If not, please fill-in an issue report, as it is a bug).

Right
 

Your second option is to convert the disk to ext2 (or ext3, as some recent dlink firmware vwrsions recognize it) using your linux box. You have to search for and follow instructions elsewhere.

Your first option is to flash Alt-F :)

I will read the doc carefully, but for the moment this option seem difficult

4-You want to replace the stock firmware, flashing Alt-F on the box:
  Since Alt-F-0.1RC1 you can flash Alt-F from within the D-Link firmware.
  Download Alt-F-<version>.bin and use it as if it was a D-Link supplied firmware file.
  If you are already using Alt-F, using one of the 1-3 above methods, download
  Alt-F-<version>.bin and use the Alt-F firmware upgrade web page to flash it.

Because the dlink wants to prepare the disk before

 

[Joao Cardoso]

Doesn't a skip button appears?
Or just powerup the box without any disk inserted.

On Oct 1, 2012 8:16 AM, "Stealth" <freder...@gmail.com> wrote:

> You have not flashed Alt-F, the convertion option for ext4 should be disabled (or a warning appea...

Right
 

> > Your second option is to convert the disk to ext2 (or ext3, as some recent dlink firmware vwrsi...

I will read the doc carefully, but for the moment this option seem difficult

4-You want to replace the stock firmware, flashing Alt-F on the box:

  Since Alt-F-0.1RC1 you can flash Alt-F from within the D-Link firmware.

  Download Alt-F-<version>.bin and use it as if it was a D-Link supplied firmware file.

  If you are already using Alt-F, using one of the 1-3 above methods, download

  Alt-F-<version>.bin and use the Alt-F firmware upgrade web page to flash it.

Because the dlink wants to prepare the disk before

 

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[Stealth]

Your second option is to convert the disk to ext2 (or ext3, as some recent dlink firmware vwrsions recognize it) using your linux box. You have to search for and follow instructions elsewhere.

I read that I can mount ext4 DD as ext3 if and only if there is nothing written (It's my case I suppose), so where the dlink firmware found ext4 ? If I understand right it should mount in ext3 ?

[Stealth]

Le lundi 1 octobre 2012 10:37:03 UTC+2, Joao Cardoso a écrit :

Doesn't a skip button appears?
Or just powerup the box without any disk inserted.

Thank for your help, I 'm not at home now, I will try tonight 

[Stealth]

Your first option is to flash Alt-F :)

There is no risk of confusion between Alt-F in flash mermory and Alt-f already in HDD ? Maybe I should erase something before ?

[Joao Cardoso]

No, only a folder called Alt-F (notice the case) , if found, is used for Alt-F packages. Alt-F Settings stored in flash will be used without any problem.

On Oct 1, 2012 9:50 AM, "Stealth" <freder...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > Your first option is to flash Alt-F :) > >

There is no risk of confusion between Alt-F in flash mermory and Alt-f already in HDD ? Maybe I should erase something before ?

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[Stealth]

Le lundi 1 octobre 2012 15:10:05 UTC+2, Joao Cardoso a écrit :

No, only a folder called Alt-F (notice the case) , if found, is used for Alt-F packages. Alt-F Settings stored in flash will be used without any problem.

Ok all seem good now, thank again 

[Jefrey Goldon]

The copy speed on my 323 C1 is about average 11-12mbs, what is OK on this hardware, i think.
(alt-f rc3, flashed, ext4, 1 hdd)

Is there an speed advantage of the addon samba tools over the build in samba server?

[João Cardoso]

On Sunday, November 10, 2013 3:58:04 PM UTC, Jefrey Goldon wrote:

The copy speed on my 323 C1 is about average 11-12mbs,

The tests performed were internal disk tests, not involving network transfers.

The purpose was not to benchmark, but only to give *relative* filesystems performance, i.e., ranking

 

what is OK on this hardware, i think.
(alt-f rc3, flashed, ext4, 1 hdd)

Is there an speed advantage of the addon samba tools over the build in samba server?

Not related, but no, no speed advantage. Only more features (for the experts) at the expense of consuming more internal memory, which is already scarce.