Possible EXT2 File System Corruption in Kernel 2.4

Frank Krauss (fmfkrauss@mindspring.com)
Thu, 11 Apr 2002 12:40:15 -0400


Good day,

I have a problem in the area of EXT2 File System Corruption.

I attempted originally to send this information to Remy Card as per the
MAINTAINERS file at RemyCard@linux.org but I got the message about
him being an unknown user.

Since my System is fairly up-to-date, both Hardware and Software wise,
I thought that perhaps someone would be able to solve this problem of mine.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

> Hello Remy,
>
> I have a problem which appears to be in your area of responsibility and expertise.
>
> Hardware Information
>
> 1. I have a Pentium 4 P.C.
> 2. The Motherboard is a D850MV.
> 3. The Chipset is an Intel 850.
> 4. The System has 256 Mb of Ram.
> 5. My Hard-drive is a Maxtor 5T030H3 (30 gigibytes)
> 6. It is on ide1 as /dev/hdc.
> 7. The disk is Partitioned in the following manner:
> C y l s Usage 1K Blks
> A. /dev/hdc1 1 - 85 Root 660890
> B. /dev/hdc2 86 - 150 Swap
> C. /dev/hdc3 151 - 3671 /Products 27015180
> D. /dev/hdc4 3672 - 3736 /Source 505471
>
> Software Information
>
> 1. My Linux Distribution is Caldera 2.3
> 2. I have upgraded the Kernel to 2.4.18
>
> My problem came up yesterday in the following manner:
> My Root Partition, /dev/hdc1 went 100% full.
> Even though I erased various files from it which should have brought
> it down to 97% usage, it remained at the 100% level.
> I believe that this is another, known, separate problem from mine.
>
> I finally decided to move the /usr/X11R6 directory, which was approx. 134 Mb,
> from the /root partition to a completly empty partition that I had just
> defined as /Products on /dev/hdc3.
>
> The Copy worked but I got the following 10 Error Messages:
>
> Apr 9 17:12:51 kernel: EXT2-fs error (device ide1(22,3)): ext2_new_block: Allocating block in system zone - block = 835885
> Apr 9 17:12:51 kernel: EXT2-fs error (device ide1(22,3)): ext2_new_block: Allocating block in system zone - block = 835886
> Apr 9 17:12:51 kernel: EXT2-fs error (device ide1(22,3)): ext2_new_block: Allocating block in system zone - block = 835894
> Apr 9 17:12:51 kernel: EXT2-fs error (device ide1(22,3)): ext2_new_block: Allocating block in system zone - block = 835902
> Apr 9 17:12:51 kernel: EXT2-fs error (device ide1(22,3)): ext2_new_block: Allocating block in system zone - block = 835910
> Apr 9 17:12:51 kernel: EXT2-fs error (device ide1(22,3)): ext2_new_block: Allocating block in system zone - block = 835918
> Apr 9 17:12:51 kernel: EXT2-fs error (device ide1(22,3)): ext2_new_block: Allocating block in system zone - block = 835926
> Apr 9 17:12:51 kernel: EXT2-fs error (device ide1(22,3)): ext2_new_block: Allocating block in system zone - block = 835934
> Apr 9 17:12:51 kernel: EXT2-fs error (device ide1(22,3)): ext2_new_block: Allocating block in system zone - block = 835942
> Apr 9 17:12:51 kernel: EXT2-fs error (device ide1(22,3)): ext2_new_block: Allocating block in system zone - block = 835950
>
> Since I did a DU of both the Old and New directories and they were the same,
> I assumed that everything was O.K.
>
> Unfortunately, after I shutdown the System and re-booted, I got a huge number
> of INODE error messages that took FSCK about an Hour to fix.
> I did not write any of the Inode information down.
>
> I see mention on the Net that up to 2.4.17 there are still problems outstanding
> in this area of the Kernel.
>
> Would you be kind enough to tell me if there is any fix I can put on my
> System to keep this problem from reoccuring again?
>
> As my System is currently a Testing/Development System, I would be quit happy
> to help you debug this problem with any reasonable testing that you would like
> me to do.
>
> Alan Cox mentioned, in a response to someone who had a similar problem as
> mine, that a VIA Chipset along with a Sound Blaster Live card, could somehow
> cause this problem.
> 1. I do NOT have the VIA Chipset on my System.
> 2. I DO have the Sound Blaster Live card on my System.
>
> I didn't have this problem using Kernel 2.2.17 on my 486 Computer.
>
> I would like to get this problem resolved before my System becomes Production
> since I value Reliability and Stability of an Operating System most importantly
> of all.
>
> I will be glad to provide you any additional information about my System that
> would assist you in solving this problem.
>
> I would like to thank you in advance for your effort in clearing up this
> problem effecting the reliability of the New Production Linux Kernel.
>
> Yours truly,
>
> Frank Krauss

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