linux ext2 or ext3...

[Chris Morton]

pamntom wrote:

> Ha! Found a FAQ page for the explanation: 
> http://batleth.sapienti-sat.org/projects/FAQs/ext3-faq.html
>
> I will go with linux ext3. My question is still out there for anyone’s 
> help though. What’s the best partition considering my goal?
>
> These are my options using Partition magic (v8) as I am about to begin 
> with an installation of RH9: FAT - NTFS – Linux ext2 – Linux ext3 – 
> Linux swap.
>
> What are the differences? Don’t need swap space (yet), so I am down to 
> four options… I am going to assume that I want linux, but which 
> partition choice?
>
> I have a new Dell workstation (Precision 450) running EXP, and I plan 
> to have a dual boot WXP/RH9 using Grub as my loader, and samba to talk 
> to my other NT systems. Also: I have a low-end ATI video card, as a 
> default for now.
>
I recommend ext3, since it's a journaling file system. That means that 
it can recover from faults by rolling back.

Actually you DO need a Linux swap partition. It serves a similar 
function to the Windows swap file.

If I were you, I'd do some Google Searches on "dual boot". I don't think 
you know enough yet to make a meaningful choice. I think there's a dual 
boot HOWTO at linuxdoc.org (or linuxdocs.org).

Also, I'm not sure that you're really going to need Partition Magic to 
do what you want.

Personally, I've sidestepped the whole dual boot issue. I use separate 
hard drives in removeable drive carriers. That way, I don't have to deal 
with the problems that Windows always introduces. I just shut down and 
switch drives to switch operating systems. Works MUCH better for me. The 
carriers are very cheap, typically as low as $9.00 a piece, including 
all hardware. Buy two or three so that you can just swap carriers. Use 
others to swap data drives if you need to.