inode issue

[warmongr]

I am using a backup server that is an inode hog.  I must increase the amount of inodes or tune the use of inodes to be more efficient.  Any ideas on how to do this?

 

[fenris]

This may be a newbie question, but what is an inode? and what are they used for?<br><br>Thanks<br><br><br> <p> fenris<br><a href=mailto:fenris@hotmail.com>fenris@hotmail.com</a><br><a href= > </a><br> I am interested in Mining Software, as well as Genetic Algorithms.

 

[MikeLacey]

Warmongr,<br><br>I've not done this in Linux - but in other unices it's a <FONT FACE=monospace><b>newfs</font></b> option.<br><br>Fenris,<br><br>An inode holds details of a single file, creation time, modification time and so forth -- one inode = one file -- so you have to specify if you're going to have a lot fo files.<br><br>That's right isn't it warmongr?<br> <p>Mike<br><a href=mailto:michael.j.lacey@ntlworld.com>michael.j.lacey@ntlworld.com</a><br><a href=

http://www.cargill.com/>

Cargill's Corporate Web Site</a><br>

 

[Octalman]

Yup.&nbsp;&nbsp;When you run out of inodes, it's either clean up or reformat.<br><br>fenris,<br><br>As Mike says, the inode describes a file.&nbsp;&nbsp;But inodes are made up of fixed-size structures that don't contain the file name or any directory structure information.&nbsp;&nbsp;That is why *n*x file names can be very long (limit varies depending on which *n*x) - they are stored, along with directory structure information, in a variable length structure outside the inode block.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is why when you move (mv) a file within the same disk partition (*n*x &quot;filesystem&quot the move happens so fast - the file stayed right where it was.&nbsp;&nbsp;The inode wasn't even touched, only the filename-directory structure was tweaked.&nbsp;&nbsp;Once the OS has found a file by name, it only uses the inode number to refer to the file.&nbsp;&nbsp;Filenames are for sissies (users), not the OS.<br><br>Also, links live only in the filename area.&nbsp;&nbsp;A &quot;hard&quot; link is just a different name for the same inode refered to by it's &quot;proper&quot; name.&nbsp;&nbsp;A symbolic link just points to another entry in the filename area, not to an inode, which is why symlinks are slower than hard links - gotta make two (or more) name lookups before you can find the inode. <p>Octalman<br><a href=mailto: > </a><br><a href= > </a><br>

 

[warmongr]

You are all correct. In linux there are some files that can be tweaked to help modify/optimize your file systems inode use.&nbsp;&nbsp;They are:<br><br>/proc/sys/fs/file-max<br>/proc/sys/fs/inode-max<br>/proc/sys/fs/inode-nr<br><br>These can be modified like the following<br>cat /proc/sys/fs/file-max<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;You should see a number like 4096<br>I bumped mine up using:<br>echo 12288 &gt; /proc/sys/fs/file-max&nbsp;&nbsp;(3 times the amount showing 4096*3)<br>echo 36864 &gt; /proc/sys/fs/inode-nr&nbsp;&nbsp;(3 times the amount of file-max)<br><br>I then moved my back-up server database to another partition which had plenty of inodes.&nbsp;&nbsp;The back-up ran fine.&nbsp;&nbsp;More as a result of moving files than the file system tweaks.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>***&nbsp;&nbsp;These file system mods should not be made just to make them.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you constantly get errors indicating 'not enough file handles' or you are constantly running out of inodes then try this and see if your problem goes away.&nbsp;&nbsp;Otherwise as stated above (and what I am doing today) is to rebuild.&nbsp;&nbsp;If your problem is resolved and you want to keep the above mods you will have to modify your /etc/rc.d/rc.local to include the above echo statements otherwise your files will go back to normal next time you boot.<br><br>If you want more documentation on it check /usr/local/src/Documentation/sysctl/fs.txt <br><br>Hope someone gets some use out of this.<br><br>I'm outta here!<br><br>War...

 

[fenris]

Thanks for answering my question on inodes as well. <p> fenris<br><a href=mailto:fenris@hotmail.com>fenris@hotmail.com</a><br><a href= > </a><br> I am interested in Mining Software, as well as Genetic Algorithms.

 

[warmongr]

I must submit a flame to myself.&nbsp;&nbsp;In my above post I stated:<br><br>echo 36864 &gt; /proc/sys/fs/inode-nr&nbsp;&nbsp;(3 times the amount of file-max)<br><br>It should have said:<br><br>echo 36864 &gt; /proc/sys/fs/inode-max&nbsp;&nbsp;(3 times the amount of file-max)<br><br>I then said the documentation could be found in /usr/local/src/Documentation/sysctl/fs.txt while in fact it is in /usr/src/linux/Documentation/sysctl/fs.txt.<br><br>My apologies if you have corrupted any files however if you have made the changes above I will give you full refund.&nbsp;&nbsp;Really though remove the lines from your rc.local and reboot your machine.&nbsp;&nbsp;They will go back to the system default.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>Sorry,<br>war...