Linux From Scratch - Version 11.3-rc1

Chapter 8. Installing Basic System Software

8.74. E2fsprogs-1.47.0

The E2fsprogs package contains the utilities for handling the ext2 file system. It also supports the ext3 and ext4 journaling file systems.

Approximate build time: 2.4 SBU on a spinning disk, 0.4 SBU on an SSD
Required disk space: 95 MB

8.74.1. Installation of E2fsprogs

The E2fsprogs documentation recommends that the package be built in a subdirectory of the source tree: 

mkdir -v build
cd       build

Prepare E2fsprogs for compilation: 

../configure --prefix=/usr           \
             --sysconfdir=/etc       \
             --enable-elf-shlibs     \
             --disable-libblkid      \
             --disable-libuuid       \
             --disable-uuidd         \
             --disable-fsck

The meaning of the configure options:

--enable-elf-shlibs

This creates the shared libraries which some programs in this package use.

--disable-*

These prevent building and installing the libuuid and libblkid libraries, the uuidd daemon, and the fsck wrapper; util-linux installs more recent versions.

Compile the package: 

make

To run the tests, issue: 

make check

One test, u_direct_io, is known to fail on some systems.

Install the package: 

make install

Remove useless static libraries: 

rm -fv /usr/lib/{libcom_err,libe2p,libext2fs,libss}.a

This package installs a gzipped .info file but doesn't update the system-wide dir file. Unzip this file and then update the system dir file using the following commands: 

gunzip -v /usr/share/info/libext2fs.info.gz
install-info --dir-file=/usr/share/info/dir /usr/share/info/libext2fs.info

If desired, create and install some additional documentation by issuing the following commands: 

makeinfo -o      doc/com_err.info ../lib/et/com_err.texinfo
install -v -m644 doc/com_err.info /usr/share/info
install-info --dir-file=/usr/share/info/dir /usr/share/info/com_err.info

8.74.2. Contents of E2fsprogs

Installed programs: badblocks, chattr, compile_et, debugfs, dumpe2fs, e2freefrag, e2fsck, e2image, e2label, e2mmpstatus, e2scrub, e2scrub_all, e2undo, e4crypt, e4defrag, filefrag, fsck.ext2, fsck.ext3, fsck.ext4, logsave, lsattr, mk_cmds, mke2fs, mkfs.ext2, mkfs.ext3, mkfs.ext4, mklost+found, resize2fs, and tune2fs
Installed libraries: libcom_err.so, libe2p.so, libext2fs.so, and libss.so
Installed directories: /usr/include/e2p, /usr/include/et, /usr/include/ext2fs, /usr/include/ss, /usr/lib/e2fsprogs, /usr/share/et, and /usr/share/ss

Short Descriptions

badblocks

Searches a device (usually a disk partition) for bad blocks

chattr

Changes the attributes of files on ext{234} file systems

compile_et

An error table compiler; it converts a table of error-code names and messages into a C source file suitable for use with the com_err library

debugfs

A file system debugger; it can be used to examine and change the state of ext{234} file systems

dumpe2fs

Prints the super block and blocks group information for the file system present on a given device

e2freefrag

Reports free space fragmentation information

e2fsck

Is used to check and optionally repair ext{234} file systems

e2image

Is used to save critical ext{234} file system data to a file

e2label

Displays or changes the file system label on the ext{234} file system on a given device

e2mmpstatus

Checks MMP (Multiple Mount Protection) status of an ext4 file system

e2scrub

Checks the contents of a mounted ext{234} file system

e2scrub_all

Checks all mounted ext{234} file systems for errors

e2undo

Replays the undo log for an ext{234} file system found on a device. [This can be used to undo a failed operation by an E2fsprogs program.]

e4crypt

Ext4 file system encryption utility

e4defrag

Online defragmenter for ext4 file systems

filefrag

Reports on how badly fragmented a particular file might be

fsck.ext2

By default checks ext2 file systems and is a hard link to e2fsck

fsck.ext3

By default checks ext3 file systems and is a hard link to e2fsck

fsck.ext4

By default checks ext4 file systems and is a hard link to e2fsck

logsave

Saves the output of a command in a log file

lsattr

Lists the attributes of files on a second extended file system

mk_cmds

Converts a table of command names and help messages into a C source file suitable for use with the libss subsystem library

mke2fs

Creates an ext{234} file system on the given device

mkfs.ext2

By default creates ext2 file systems and is a hard link to mke2fs

mkfs.ext3

By default creates ext3 file systems and is a hard link to mke2fs

mkfs.ext4

By default creates ext4 file systems and is a hard link to mke2fs

mklost+found

Creates a lost+found directory on an ext{234} file system; it pre-allocates disk blocks to this directory to lighten the task of e2fsck

resize2fs

Can be used to enlarge or shrink ext{234} file systems

tune2fs

Adjusts tunable file system parameters on ext{234} file systems

libcom_err

The common error display routine

libe2p

Used by dumpe2fs, chattr, and lsattr

libext2fs

Contains routines to enable user-level programs to manipulate ext{234} file systems

libss

Used by debugfs