Re: [SLUG] is there a maximum file size under Linux?

[Andre Pang <ozone@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, Nov 05, 2001 at 12:13:01AM +0100, Regen Meister wrote:

> we have a Linux server running MFG/Pro and the
> database has reached 3GB. We have more info
> wanting to get in, but the database can't seem to grow beyond 3GB.

If you have just the one gigantic file, it might be an idea to put
it on its own disk, or partition.  (i.e. don't even bother with a
filesystem -- if you're using a database, a filesystem will
probably just slow things down).  You should be able to use
/dev/hda or /dev/hda1 directly.  Point your database package to
look at that file.

> People have told me that Linux ext2 file system can only accomodate file sizes
> up to 3GB.
> 1/ Is that true?

Even though others have been saying that ext2 is limited to 2GB, I
swear it can take more.  In fact, [1], which is is main design
document on ext2 written years ago, says that the maximum file
size is 4TB.  It's the Linux kernel, not ext2, which has the 2GB
file limit.

> 2/ Is there a way around it? (because the sys admin wants to migrate to Windows
> 2000 :-(     and turf Linux out of the company :-(   )

I think all the 2.4 kernels have support for large files.  If
you're running a 2.2 kernel and don't want to upgrade to 2.4, have
a look at [2] for a kernel patch to enable LFS (though I'd
seriously think about a 2.4 upgrade instead).  Unfortunately I'm
not 100% sure what you have to _do_ to get large files working; I
think you have to make sure that you have large-file versions of
all the standard file utilities (cp, mv, etc) along with a recent
version of glibc, to make sure they don't break files.  Try
reading the messages in the thread at [3] for a starting point.

[1] http://e2fsprogs.sourceforge.net/ext2intro.html

[2] http://freshmeat.net/projects/lfs/

[3] http://www.uwsg.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0011.2/0009.html


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