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Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check

From Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid>
Newsgroups comp.os.linux.misc
Subject Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check
Date 2026-05-07 13:17 +0000
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <slrn10vp46r.92m.boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> (permalink)
References (5 earlier) <10svt92$p5k9$2@dont-email.me> <slrn10veft7.1akm.boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> <fcjkcmxt1h.ln2@Telcontar.valinor> <slrn10vh4vv.2tn.boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> <kl3ncmxfq4.ln2@Telcontar.valinor>

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On 2026-05-04, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
> On 2026-05-04 14:41, Borax Man wrote:
>> On 2026-05-03, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>>> On 2026-05-03 14:29, Borax Man wrote:
>>>> Come to think of it, its quite late in the game to be still running
>>>> EXT3!  EXT4 is already nearly two decades old.  Personally, I'd
>>>> recommend BTRFS or XFS, especially for large storage/archival.
>>>
>>> I don't trust btrfs, and xfs poses problems when used for root; for data
>>> it is perfect.
>>>
>>> I have a raid 6 with 8 active disks, LUKS encrypted and using btrfs with
>>> compression. It has developed an error, impossible to correct (I don't
>>> know how, got advice about what to do, but took days and it aborted.
>>> Eventually will redo with XFS instead).
>>>
>> 
>> What issues are there with XFS for root?
>
> I don't remember well, and I feel lazy about writing it up, so I asked 
> chatgpt.
>
> The core problem
>
> On BIOS systems (not UEFI), GRUB traditionally embeds part of its code 
> (“core.img”) in the post-MBR gap—the space between the MBR and the first 
> partition.
>
> This works fine if that gap exists (common with older partition layouts).
> But modern partitioning tools or certain layouts don’t leave enough 
> space there.
>
> Now add XFS:
>
> Why XFS makes it worse
>
> XFS does not support embedding GRUB core files inside the filesystem 
> itself (unlike something like ext4 with certain GRUB setups). So GRUB 
> has fewer fallback options.
>
> That leads to this situation:
>
> If there’s no post-MBR gap available
> And your /boot is on XFS
> → GRUB has nowhere safe to put core.img
> Resulting error
>
> You’ll often see something like:
>
> embedding is not possible, but this is required for cross-disk install
> The usual fixes
> 1. Use a BIOS boot partition (recommended for GPT + BIOS)
>
> Create a small (~1–2 MB) partition with type:
>
> bios_grub (GPT flag)
>
> GRUB will store its core image there safely.
>
> 2. Use a different filesystem for /boot
>
> Instead of XFS:
>
> ext4 is the most common safe choice
> 3. Switch to UEFI (if possible)
>
> With UEFI:
>
> GRUB lives in the EFI System Partition (FAT32)
> No need for embedding tricks at all
>
>
>
>> 
>> I have had an issue with BTRFS in the past, an error which couldn't be
>> corrected.  The error didn't have any impact except failing to read one
>> extended attribute from a file, which didn't matter that much, but it
>> did mean that one subvolume couldn't be sent properly (a fact I became
>> aware of too late).  The filesystem seemed to work fine regardless.
>> What made me lost a little trust is I backed up then ran FSCK, and FSCK
>> made a complete dogs breakfast of the filesystem.  This might have been
>> in 2015, thereabouts.
>
> Well, I hit "something" less than a year ago.
>
>
>> 
>> But that was over 10 years ago, and its been fine ever sense.  As I
>> mentioned before, the checksumming picked up issues that would have
>> otherwise gone unnoticed and led to lost data, so I do trust it but
>> still, I'd only use it if I really needed the features.  If not, XFS
>
>

Oh yeah, I remember something about this with XFS and GRUB.  It rings a
bell.

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Thread

Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Leroy H <lh@somewhere.net> - 2026-04-24 00:04 +0000
  Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-04-24 02:29 +0000
    Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Leroy H <lh@somewhere.net> - 2026-04-24 09:23 +0000
      Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-24 10:28 +0100
      Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-24 19:46 -0400
  Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-24 10:55 +0200
  Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-04-26 12:53 +0000
    Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Leroy H <lh@somewhere.net> - 2026-04-26 14:01 +0000
      Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-26 20:54 +0200
      Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-04-27 13:25 +0000
  Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-04-27 15:24 +0000
    Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-04-29 13:10 +0000
      Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-04-29 15:57 +0000
        Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-30 01:02 -0400
          Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-30 11:01 +0200
          Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Borax Man <rotflol2@hotmail.com> - 2026-04-30 12:36 +0000
            Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-04-30 14:32 +0000
              Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-30 16:42 +0100
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-05-03 12:29 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-03 21:13 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-05-03 22:05 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check jayjwa <jayjwa@atr2.ath.cx.invalid> - 2026-05-04 12:08 -0400
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check John Bokma <contact@johnbokma.com> - 2026-05-04 19:24 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-05-05 00:00 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-05-04 12:41 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-04 20:04 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-05-05 00:05 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-05 12:07 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-05-05 21:56 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-06 02:41 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-05-06 04:13 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-06 13:03 +0100
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-06 10:21 +0100
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-06 13:36 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-05-06 21:16 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-06 23:31 +0100
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam2616@zugschl.us> - 2026-05-07 06:41 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-07 08:34 +0100
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-07 09:06 +0100
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-07 10:58 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2026-05-08 09:00 +1000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-08 09:45 +0100
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2026-05-09 10:01 +1000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Leroy H <lh@somewhere.net> - 2026-05-09 00:12 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> - 2026-05-09 17:30 +1000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-05-08 00:12 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-08 10:57 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-05-08 09:26 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-08 12:47 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-05-08 21:55 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-08 16:42 +0100
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-08 22:42 +0100
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-09 08:34 +0100
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-09 10:18 +0100
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-09 13:31 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam2616@zugschl.us> - 2026-05-09 09:57 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-05-06 00:53 -0400
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-06 10:47 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-05-07 13:17 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-05-05 01:22 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-05-05 00:52 -0400
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-05 12:11 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-05-06 00:46 -0400
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-05-06 06:43 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-05-06 11:05 -0400
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-05-06 19:47 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-05-06 15:10 -0700
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-05-06 22:04 -0400
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-05-07 06:32 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-05-07 17:37 -0400
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-05-08 00:30 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-05-07 23:20 -0400
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-06 10:51 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-06 17:38 +0100
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-06 20:52 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-05-07 13:14 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-07 16:51 +0100
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-05-07 18:35 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-07 20:08 +0100
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-05-08 12:47 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-08 14:22 +0100
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-05-08 13:24 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-05-09 14:08 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-07 20:20 +0200
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-05-08 12:40 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-05-08 00:17 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-05-08 12:38 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-05-08 21:07 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-05-09 14:06 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-05-09 15:27 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-05-10 12:28 +0000
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-05 12:08 +0200
              Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-30 17:05 +0100
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-30 14:28 -0400
              Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-05-03 12:15 +0000
            Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-30 16:54 +0100
            Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-05-01 00:15 +0000
              Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-30 20:36 -0400
                Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-05-03 12:08 +0000
      Re: Converted EXT4 is Slow to Check c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-30 00:59 -0400

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