Choice of Root File System

[Graham1]

Hi All

With Canonical suggesting ZFS as a file system for Ubuntu, I'm curious as to what file system you will (or are) using on your root partition.

[ajgreeny]

As I have almost no knowledge of zfs I will certainly be sticking with ext4 on all systems that I need to run exactly as I expect; I do not have time to deal with unexpected things happening on a working install.

I do expect to have a look at it, either using Vbox, if that is OK with zfs, or probably better, using a small testing system in dual boot on a laptop I use less than my main machine.

[Frogs Hair]

With all announcements regarding changes in Ubuntu I wait and see. I remember rumblings about Wayland being default too. It seems 20.10 may include improved support for zfs. I use ext4 and after a little research I find no clear consensus on what file system is the best option.

[mastablasta]

ext4 for the root. BTRFS can be used well on /home

[Graham1]

Wow, I'm surprised I'm the only person using a non ext4 partition as root. Having read reports of btrfs being a lot slower than ext4, I haven't noticed much difference tbh. To those running ext4, what is your recovery (or backup) procedure? Having tried zfs in boxes, recovery doesn't seem as good (when using timeshift with btrfs) but still early days I guess.

[deadflowr]

To those running ext4, what is your recovery (or backup) procedure?

deja dup, always to external hard drives.

[poorguy]

I choose other because I don't care what partition is used.

I'll use whatever the default installer sets up at the time of install OOTB.

I used to set up all the different partitions for root and home and swap etc I don't remember anymore.

Nowadays I just insert the DVD and let it do the rest and always have good results OOTB with default partitions.

So whatever new partitions Ubuntu or other Linux distros I use want to create and use I'm cool with as long as it works.


Life Is Good.

[Graham1]

deja dup, always to external hard drives.

I've started using deja dup for backing up my home directory (int. ssd > int. sata). Does deja dup create incremental backups? Can this be used to restore the OS in the event of a system crash? (no gui).

[Graham1]

I choose other because I don't care what partition is used.

I'll use whatever the default installer sets up at the time of install OOTB.

I used to set up all the different partitions for root and home and swap etc I don't remember anymore.

Nowadays I just insert the DVD and let it do the rest and always have good results OOTB with default partitions.

So whatever new partitions Ubuntu or other distros I use what to create and use I'm cool with as long as it works I don't care.


Life Is Good.

I used to go with the defaults but since becoming more confident with Linux, have started using different setups. For root, btrfs as it allows me to instantly restore the OS in case of a bad update or user error. Previously used Clonezilla but using TImeshift works well for me (gui or terminal). Home is on a ext4 partition and if I have had to (or chosen to) install the OS again, configuration is still in contact. Swap is on a separate partition as the swapfile doesn't seem to be recognised under btrfs.

[poorguy]

I used to go with the defaults but since becoming more confident with Linux, have started using different setups. For root, btrfs as it allows me to instantly restore the OS in case of a bad update or user error.

I don't recall having many issues from updates that broke my distro where a reinstall was necessary.
I usually created the problems I've had which broke my distro and I had to reinstall it.

Previously used Clonezilla but using TImeshift works well for me (gui or terminal). Home is on a ext4 partition and if I have had to (or chosen to) install the OS again, configuration is still in contact.

I just back up important files / folders to usb thumb drives as as needed.