BTR filesystem: getting it running on Puppy

Filemanagers, partitioning tools, etc.
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edwardb
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon 09 Jul 2012, 21:19

BTR filesystem: getting it running on Puppy

#1 Post by edwardb »

This is a blog-like format for notes and progress with btrfs on puppy-linux.

There should be no reason why it cannot access the btrfs.
It can inherently be used in single mode, mirror mode, striped mode, and mirrored striped mode.

Ultimate goal: like the "new" ext4fs, puppy linux should be able to
incorporate the btrfs. Pmount, Roxfiler, gparted, grub bootloader...

If constrained to a USB stick, why not use two of them at least for a performance boost (striped mode), or for the more cautious, a dependency boost (mirrored mode).

Fast in RAM, fast/dependable on dual USB sticks...

Finally, when hd device space are added to the pool of dual USB sticks, subvolume snapshots can be made and kept for immediate recovery should something happen.

Let's make it happen.

Barry has a great page for puppy development. Let's start there:
+ http://www.puppylinux.com/development/

Some initial thoughts:

+ puppy already has btrfs kernel module...
+ loaded the module on boot-up... but cannot mount or access a btrfs partition... "wrong fstype..." it says...

+ download btrfs, compile, and "install" the tools
+ btrfs-tools that must be converted to .sfs (or .pet)
+ oh yes, that kernel must be upgraded too.. at least to a v2.6.39

hmmm...
Last edited by edwardb on Wed 18 Jul 2012, 05:36, edited 1 time in total.

edwardb
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon 09 Jul 2012, 21:19

#2 Post by edwardb »

Okay, we'll need a puppy distro with a desktop to make things much
easier and more productive.

Examining Lucid pup...
+ binary-compatible with ubuntu which has support for btrfs
+ can upgrade kernel to 2.6.39 ( http://bkhome.org/sources/kernel-2.6.39.4/ )
can we push it to 3.1.x?
+ has devx for compilation and linking purposes[/url]

aarf

#3 Post by aarf »

good luck snd best wishes.

edwardb
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon 09 Jul 2012, 21:19

#4 Post by edwardb »

Hmmm. It's clear that the btrfs works out of the box due to it being compiled as a module in the kernel.

Kernel versions greater than v2.6.29 can access a btrfs subvolume. The "younger" the kernel (i.e. v3.4 / v3.5), the better the support.

Tested using:
Lighthouse64 Mariner (v5.14)
Exprimo-5.X.3.4.2.Y
FatDog64-601

Procedure:
1. Begin with a liveCD/USB version of the puppy of your choice.
2. Boot into the environment, configure timezone, keyboard, hostname, devices, etc.
3. Download & install btrfs-progs pet from the repo, or a binary-compatible download of it. (FatDog64 is built on slackware64, so...)
4. Test by going to the Terminal, and invoking 'btrfs'. If usage instructions are present, installation is successful.
3. reboot, and create a persistant savefile. At least 768M would work.
4. Back into the environment? Usually, it'll prompt for other sfs files to
load. Do so.
5. Go into the boot manager. If your host already has predefined btrfs modules, then chances are this puppy has already loaded the modules needed. Let's double-check this by entering the "module blacklist manager".
6. If listed, btrfs should be in the left pane as a module that "are currently loaded".... which automatically loads:
+ libcrc32c
+ zlib
+ zlib_deflate
If not, let's exit, then "add a new module"
7. Add the btrfs module.

Then reboot.

Back into the puppy environment? any btrfs defined partitions are
ready for use. Try using Pmount to mount them. If not, then

PCmanFM will do the job.

As always, the younger the kernel, the better "support" is available.
Right now, Exprimo-5.x.3.4.2.10 contains the "latest" kernel version for the 32-bit system; Fatdog-601 contains the "latest" kernel version for the 64-bit system.

The final exercise is to engage the exercises
found here: http://www.funtoo.org/wiki/BTRFS_Fun

Finally:
If you choose to upgrade the kernel, then you may consider re-creating the btrfs subvolumes from scratch. Only the "latest kernel versions" of btrfs will give active support.

Enjoy! :D

scsijon
Posts: 1596
Joined: Thu 24 May 2007, 03:59
Location: the australian mallee
Contact:

btrfs kernels

#5 Post by scsijon »

If you go to my website and the kernels page you will find a set of mage2 kernels of the 3.3 series. They are configured with btrfs and kernel utilities for it turned on.

If your going to upgrade from a kernel version 2, you also need to upgrade your aufs package from 2 to 3, the pet is listed.

The only thing missing for btrfs, as far as i'm aware of a fsck package. Without it a crash could be serious, I believe it's in the pipeline though.

good luck

scsijon

edwardb
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon 09 Jul 2012, 21:19

Re: btrfs kernels

#6 Post by edwardb »

scsijon wrote:If you go to my website and the kernels page you will find a set of mage2 kernels of the 3.3 series. They are configured with btrfs and kernel utilities for it turned on.

If your going to upgrade from a kernel version 2, you also need to upgrade your aufs package from 2 to 3, the pet is listed.
we're starting from the puppies that are already utilizing kernel v3.X.Y ...
it appears these already have the upgraded aufs package.
scsijon wrote: The only thing missing for btrfs, as far as i'm aware of a fsck package. Without it a crash could be serious, I believe it's in the pipeline though. [snip]...
scsijon
The lack of a fsck package didn't stop Linus... so it shouldn't stop anyone else. :-)
Anyways, Mason has already put in place the means to rebuild the filesystem from system-initiated snapshots... worst case. Best case, a user-created snapshot, is enough which would literally eliminate the need for fsck.

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