Which filesystem (hfs or vxfs) type to use?

[Vivek Shrivastava_1]

Hi,

I would like to know little about filesystem type. I want to create a big filesystem for database dump purpose. Which filesystem type (hfs or vxfs) should I use or why, when I am using the command ‘newfs’?

Just want to let you guys know that I don't have online JFS software.

I would really appreciate if someone could help me with this.

Thanks

[Patrick Wallek · Accepted solution]

Well, how big is "a big filesystem"?

VxFS will definitely give you more capabilities for large filesystems. I would go with VxFS on everything you can just because it is much more flexible than HFS, gives you more options, and (if you choose to purchase Online JFS) you can resize the filesystems without unmounting them.

For more information on filesystem sizes have a look at knowledge base doc id KBRC00010508
http://www2.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en_US&docId=200000068403524

[Dave Olker]

Hi Vivek,

I'd be hard pressed to come up with a reason to ever recommend HFS filesystems over VxFS filesystems these days. I can't think of any advantages HFS has over VxFS, while there are many advantages of VxFS over HFS.

Even if you don't have the Online JFS software, I'd still recommend VxFS.

Regards,

Dave

[Steven E. Protter]

vxfs is generally better for large filesystems
and databases. A little easier to recovery, more up to date.

I think one of the few reasons hfs is offered is because the kernel needs to be on that type in order to boot.

newfs -F vxfs -o options /dev/dsk/rlvolname

Base vxfs comes iwth the os

Done.

[Sridhar Bhaskarla]

Hi Vivek,

VxFS is the commonly used filesystem now-a-days. Some of the advantages of VxFS is that

1. It's much faster to run fsck on it as it has to only 'replay' the intentlog unlike HFS where it has to check the entire filesystem. The bigger the size, long time it will take for HFS to do fsck with no guarantee. Size plays only a little role if not no role for JFS.

2. With JFS, you have quite a few options available if you purchase OnlineJFS like performance options, online maintenance, snapshot filesystems etc., HFS lacks those capabilities.

3. The inodes are dynamic on JFS whereas they are fixed on HFS. So, sometimes though there is space available, you may not be able to write into it due to inode full situation.

4. HFS is good if it is a small filesystem with constantly changing small files. But it can be unmanageable if this filesystem is too large. In general, vxfs performs better than HFS due to it's extent based allocation.

5. HFS is limited on size.

6. One advantage with HFS is it supports ACLs.. UNless you have JFS 3.3 or higher, you cannot use ACLs on vxfs.

I would also go for vxfs.

-Sri

[Vivek Shrivastava_1]

Thanks to all,

I learned something new today.

My filesystem size is 55GB.

thanks

[Shine_5]

Hello Vivek,

See the attachment


Shine

[R. Sri Ram Kishore_1]

Hi,

Take a look at these threads:
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=5389
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=4918

HTH.

Regards,
Sri Ram

[Sยภเl Kย๓คг]

Which is your os version
I would suggest better u go for VXFS only not HFS.VXFS has more flexibilities as compared to hsf.Since you just want to dumb some data no need to go for onlineJFS which is a priced product.If you are ready to invest the final and better option is OnlineJFS.
regads
SK