What filesystem to use?

[Redwolf]

Okay guys, got an interesting problem for you. I am currently running Windows XP and Gentoo Linux. I haven't been using Gentoo much, and want to start using it more again. I have grown a passion for video editing and Linux does have DVD ripping and video-editing capabilities. Now for the problem:

In order to use Linux as a video-editing platform, I need to let both have acess to my 80GB 'stuff' drive. Easier said than done. My 'stuff' drive is currently formatted in NTFS. I know, there is limited write support, but it isn't the kind I need. I can't simply make a FAT32 partition and hope it works, because I need to work with files over 4 GB big. Here's what I see I can do so far:

1) Format my 80GB hard drive in Ext2 (3?) and use this driver for Windows:
http://sys.xiloo.com/projects/projects.htm#ext2fsd

2) Format my 80GB hard drive in Apple's HFS filesystem, and get a Windows driver for it (the question is, IS there a good windows driver for HFS?).

3) Repartition the drive and format it to 64GB (max) HPFS partitions, and hope that it runs under XP.

4) Wait until NTFS write support matures. (not a good option for me)

Before I do any of these, I of course want to see if any of you have done this before? My main Windows partition is on it's own 20GB drive, as is my main Linux partition(s). Which one is the best path?

P.S. Oh, I'm leaving at 11 and won't be back until Saturday, so don't worry if I don't respond right away.

[willy_ph]

I'd try formatting the disk to Ext3, then using a windows driver if you can find it. A quick Google search only turned up drivers for Ext2, but there's gotta be an ext3 driver out there. Also, the driver may be compatible. I don't know the major differences between Ext2 and Ext3, unfortunately.

[flashingcurser]

What about taking the 80 gig and a few gigabit nics like these and a switch and set up a server. Then you could use JFS which I understand is very fast/stable with large files--set up a few samba shares. Maybe even share the directories on the samba server with an ftp server so the outside world can upload/download from your server. The box is just a video server, then it doesnt have to be ultra fast, just fast enough to stuff a gigabit pipe. Do all your editing on a powerfull desktop. Ripping doesnt even need a gigbit conection, ripping to server could easily go over a 10/100 to a server. I rip avi's to my server (10/100) for my kids on a regular basis, they like to see the same movie over and over...
You could set the server up with no X or Gui to keep the overhead down, could easlily get it under 2 gigs. Slackware or gentoo would be easy for that perpose. If you had a fast machine you might be able to do some lengthy editing on the server--you'll have to do some exploring to find out what editing programmes can be controled remotely--I'm sure there are many.

Just some thoughts.

[MadMan2k]

His drive might not even support a 160MB/sec transfer rate, let alone the motherboard of the server PC. I say go with the server idea and just use a 10/100mbit card.
Or, better yet, leave linux installed on the main PC with the big HD, and use another for XP. If you don't have another PC, I guess go with a driver for windows to access a linux file system, and keep dual-booting.

[Redwolf]

I have an ATA100 card, so ya, it wouldn't be hitting 160. My other mobos are all only ATA-33 except one, and that has a busted capacitor in it.

I'm afraid that a networked HDD is out of the question as far as I'm concerened. I use the same drive to play games on, and I don't have any more spare PSes (one is in a BitTorrent server, the other in a Linux Firewall).

I'll look around for a JFS or Ext3 driver. To tell the truth, is there anything I really lose sticking by Ext2? I know it's not journaling, but its not going to explode if the power goes off during a write, is it?

[Redwolf]

The person here says ext2fsd works fine. So I'm going to try it now:

http://www.asiatica.org/~ludo/archiv...tuff_ext2.html

[paul9]

isn't ext 3 just standard ext2 with a journalling system added on top, and still compatible with ext2? that's the way i read it, anyway.

[Redwolf]

This is pissing me off. Here are the probelms I'm having.

First off, paul9. I checked. They are pretty much the same thing, and programs that can read ext2 can read ext3 just as well. It's writing them that the difficulty is found.

Ok, I tried ext2fsd. I formated my drive into ext2 and tried ext2fsd. It worked fine except for one teensy tiny thing. It won't write long file names. I need long file names. I know ext2 supports long file names.

Can't find any drivers for JFS, Reiser, ext3, XFS, or any of the really good filesystems. Yipee.

For HPFS, both OSes can read/write them. But....I can't find a formatting program.

[Siliconjunkie]

There is a tool to at least read ext2/3 in Windows. Doesn't specifically say anything about write.

http://uranus.it.swin.edu.au/~jn/linux/explore2fs.htm

[Redwolf]

I've used that for a long time now. It is a great tool, but yes, it doesn't write.