Messages in this thread | | | Subject | Re: Linux does not care for data integrity (was: Disk write cache) | From | Arjan van de Ven <> | Date | Mon, 16 May 2005 13:12:36 +0200 |
| |
> and > request that the kernel switches off the drive's write cache in all > drives unless the whole fsync() stuff works (unless defeated by a > "benchmark" kernel boot parameter).
I think you missed the part where disabling the writecache decreases the mtbf of your disk by like a factor 100 or so. At which point your dataloss opportunity INCREASES by doing this.
Sure you can waive rethorics around, but the fact is that linux is improving; there now is write barrier support for ext3 (and I assume reiserfs) for at least IDE and iirc selected scsi too.
Lets repeat that again: disabling the writecache altogether is bad for your disk. really bad. Barriers aren't brilliant for it either but a heck of a lot better. Lacking barriers, it's probably safer for your data to have write cache on than off.
- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/
| |