Linux Full Read/Write access Ext3 :IFS Driver

[el33t]

I was using Paragon Mount Everythingtill now to access my Ext3 partitions but just today I came accross this nice little freeware which can do the same thing as Paragon. Just wanted to share with those who are not aware of it !

What's unique about this software?

It provides Windows NT4.0/2000/XP with full access to Linux Ext2 volumes (read access and write access). This may be useful if you have installed both Windows and Linux as a dual boot environment on your computer.

The "Ext2 Installable File System for Windows" software is freeware.

If you currently have Windows running and you realize that you need some files for your work which you have stored on an Ext2 volume of your Linux installation, you no longer have to shut down Windows and boot Linux!

Furthermore, Windows will now be able to handle floppy disks which have been formatted with an Ext2 file system.

Get it here: http://www.fs-driver.org/download/Ext2IFS_1_10a.exe

There is also another similar software which u will find here:

http://uranus.it.swin.edu.au/~jn/linux/ext2ifs.htm

 

[KingKrool]

Let me clarify this - it provides full read and write support only for Ext2.

Ext3 is supported read-only.

Why?

Well Ext3 is the same as Ext2 except that it adds a journal..

So this thing can read from Ext3 by simply ignoring the journal, but if it tried that while writing, there wud be problems when u boot into linux.

The upshot?

Support is provided as below:

Ext2 = read + write

Ext3 = read

So perhaps the title should be modified accordingly.. I leave it to the author to ask for that to be done if he deems it necessary.

 

[el33t]

oh my god u make me feel new to linux sorry but i am "NOT" modifying the title anyways bcoz i test before i post

Regards.

 

[KingKrool]

Let me quote from their site:

The Ext3 file system is the Ext2 file system which has been extended by journaling. Ext3 is backward-compatible to Ext2 - an Ext3 volume can be mounted and used as an Ext2 volume. Just as older Linux Kernels which do not know the Ext3 file system can mount Ext3 volumes (as Ext2 volumes), the Ext2 file system driver ext2fs.sys for Windows incorporated in this software package can do it without any problems, too. Of course you do not take advantage of the journaling of the Ext3 file system if you mount it as an Ext2 file system.

Journaling keeps the file system of a volume consistent, even though the volume has not been cleanly dismounted in the past (for instance because the computer has crashed): There is no need for running e2fsck (the "chkdsk" of the Ext2/Ext3 file system on Linux).

That is what I said. Clearl,y since Ext3 is back compatible, you can always mount it like Ext2 (ignore the journal). But as I said, there can be problems if you write but do not dismount properly.

99/100 times there will be no problem. But claiming write support for Ext3 is not really fair. If ur linux distro claimed that it cud provide full read/write access to Ext3 partitions but did not use the journalling feature, you would scream bloody murder. The makers of the software therefore do not say full when they talk of Ext3 access.

You can use it of course, but it is not always the smartest way to go about things. Remember, while most people can live thru an improperly dismounted NTFS volume (chkdsk at most, if even that), they might tear their hair out if they had to manually fsck a partition... I once had to bcos the auto thing just wasn't working properly.. let us just say it wasn't a pleasant experience.

Anyway, I won't argue the point. Most people use XP and UPSes around here, so the chance of corruption is not that large.

 

[el33t]

See kk argument is necesary otherwise i believe there is no work or
thinking happening if there is no argument.

First,
I use ext3 partitions to store some data which i donot want to be
accessiblein Windows by non Linux users around me. I hope u understand
what i mean . I just want that data accessible using tools like IFS.

Secondly,
It doesn't create problems if i write from windows to ext3 partitions.
Plz note due to journalling feature of ext3 it is not necessary to run
fsck on that file system and never run fsck on mounted file
systems.(as i already know and also quoted by you)

Paragon Ext2FS "claims" to support write access to Ext3!

You can read or change any file, or even create new files and folders, on Ext2FS or Ext3FS volumes, like on usual FAT or NTFS volumes.

http://www.ext2fs-anywhere.com/

Thirdly,
You talk about improper unclean dismounting of the ext3 filesystem
which might coz data coruption. man even if u uncleanly dismount say for example a pen drive(fat32) or even a floppy disk(if u remove it while u accessing it) can coz data corruption !

regards.

 

[KingKrool]

I never said that it can't write to Ext3... Just that it no one will recommend i per se.. because then you are degrading the Ext3 to an Ext2... That is all.

First,

I use ext3 partitions to store some data which i donot want to be

accessiblein Windows by non Linux users around me. I hope u understand

what i mean . I just want that data accessible using tools like IFS.

No argument there. You can use it to store whatever you want however you want. I am not abt to tell you what you can or cannot do with ur computer.

Plz note due to journalling feature of ext3 it is not necessary to run

fsck on that file system and never run fsck on mounted file

systems

Absolutely correct. But when u use the Ext3 from Windows via fs-driver orwhatever, you do so as Ext2.. Therefore, fsck might just come in to play. Why? Because the journal (which normally prevents the need for fsck), has not been used.

Paragon Ext2FS "claims" to support write access to Ext3!

I have no idea abt paragon, never talked abt it, nor am I abt to.. Does it use IFS? U see, I have an interest in IFS, that is why I commented in the first place.

Thirdly,

You talk about improper unclean dismounting of the ext3 filesystem

which might coz data coruption. man even if u uncleanly dismount say for example a pen drive(fat32) or even a floppy disk(if u remove it while u accessing it) can coz data corruption !

Agreed. Of course, floppy disks and fat32 do not use journalling. Ext3 does. And this software ignores that journal for the sake of simplicity. Which is unfair to the filesystem (but very fair to the developers - IFS development is a pain in the you-know-where, with little reward). Plus, I don't normally care that much abt what is on a floppy as compared to the 120GB data on my HDDs.

 

[el33t]

Absolutely correct. But when u use the Ext3 from Windows via fs-driver orwhatever, you do so as Ext2.. Therefore, fsck might just come in to play. Why? Because the journal (which normally prevents the need for fsck), has not been used.

Agreed I accept strong point

Regards.

 

[KingKrool]

Why do the two of us always get into a long and pointless argument? I don't think anyone else is even looking at this thread..

 

[el33t]

maybe coz weird things happen with weird people and in every thread better check who starts the pointless argument and then i have to stop it some way by appreciating the opponent by making him feel like a big winner hyeah:

Regards.

 

[KingKrool]

check who starts the pointless argument

That would be me.

have to stop it some way by appreciating the opponent by making him feel like a big winner

Uh uh. That only happened this time. Last time we got into an argument was that forensic tool thingy, where I had a problem with your using bold text where it was not logical. No winner there.

maybe coz weird things happen with weird people

Oh? So you are weird? Nice of you to admit it. I never knew my old siggy applied to you hyeah: hyeah: hyeah:

P.S. How is ZFS? Like it? Cos I am going to give Solaris another try in December... major development project coming out in a few months frm my side... if it ever gets completed, trust me, u will hear abt it.

 

[el33t]

P.S. How is ZFS? Like it? Cos I am going to give Solaris another try in December... major development project coming out in a few months frm my side... if it ever gets completed, trust me, u will hear abt it.

Nope not yet. I'm currently working aggressively on Windows PDC emulation on Linux with Samba 3.0 & LDAP + Firewalls , Squid Enterprise Proxy and shell scripting especially Perl.

I am coming, on 29th, to Pune for an Interview for the post of a Linux system Admin due to my expertise in Samba-LDAP and Windows PDC. I won't reveal the company details offcourse but its somewhere near Law college in pune.

Regards.

 

[KingKrool]

If you get the job, drop in and say hi sometime