[linux-lvm] fsync() and LVM

[Les Mikesell]

Greg Freemyer wrote:
>>> I haven't seen anyone claim yet that there is support for fsync(), which
>> must return the status of the completion of the operation to the
>> application.  If it does, then the discussion could turn to performance.
>> 
> Is your specific interest to ext3?

No, it is whether a useful fsync() is possible over LVM.

> If so, I suggest you post a
> question there along the lines of:
> 
> Device Mapper does not support barriers if more than one physical
> device is in use by the LV.  If I'm using ext3 on a LV and I call
> fsync() from user space, how is fsync() implemented.  Or is it not?

The point of fsync() is for an application to know that a write has been 
safely committed, as for example sendmail would do before acknowledging 
to the sender that a message has been accepted.  The question isn't 
whether an application can call fsync() but rather whether it's return 
status is lying, making the underlying storage unsuitable for anything 
that needs reliability.

-- 
   Les Mikesell
    lesmikesell at gmail.com