If anyone is interested, IBM is running a really nice and in depth 
series on Linux filesystems, the latest being ext3 ...

http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/library/l-fs.html

Look on the right hand side in the Related Content box for links to the 
other parts in the series (6 so far)

Josh Bergland

Brian Densmore wrote:

> Well, sometimes that happens. You need to boot the system, log in as 
> root and run fsck (file system check). It will scan your harddrive, 
> and fix the errors hopefully. It's interactive, so just follow along. 
> If there is something seriously wrong the boot process will stop, dump 
> you in single user mode and force you to run fsck.
>
>  
>
> [jumps up on journaled file system soap box]
>
> This is why I recommend using ext3 or reiserfs. I have had my computer 
> lock up or the power go off with this system and it comes up and says 
> something like "oh, the computer went down and there were transactions 
> outstanding, hold on while I fix that". That is the power of a real 
> operating system something called "journaled file systems". There is 
> the IBM jfs, reiserfs, ext3, and a few others. What they do is protect 
> the system from crashes and unorderly shutdowns, by adding a new layer 
> to the file system. They keep a "journal" of transactions and if 
> something unusual happens, the file system isn't screwed up just maybe 
> the journal. I don't know all the technical details, and this may not 
> be 100% correct, but it should give you an idea of what the do. 
> Someone else on the list may be able to explain it better.
>
> [steps of soap box]
>
>  
>
> Brian
>
>     -----Original Message-----
>     *From:* Joshua B. Derck [mailto:JOSH@nph.com]
>     *Sent:* Friday, November 16, 2001 8:41 AM
>     *To:* Brian Densmore
>     *Subject:* RE: Unattached Inode
>
>     My Machine was lock this morning I could not shut it down properly
>     what do know
>
>         -----Original Message-----
>         *From:* Brian Densmore [mailto:DensmoreB@ctbsonline.com]
>         *Sent:* Friday, November 16, 2001 8:33 AM
>         *To:* Joshua B. Derck
>         *Cc:* KCLUG (E-mail)
>         *Subject:* RE: Unattached Inode
>
>         This is serious. You need to make sure you do an orderly
>         shutdown before turning off your PC. Hopefully you already do.
>         This is an indication that there is a problem with your file
>         system. You need to run fsck "before you dot another i Mr.
>         Cratchit"! I also recommend that you run one of the more
>         robust file systems like ext3 or reiserfs. These help prevent
>         these kinds of issues. You should also run fsck anytime your
>         system goes down.
>
>          
>
>         Good luck,
>
>         Brian
>
>             -----Original Message-----
>             *From:* Joshua B. Derck [mailto:JOSH@nph.com]
>             *Sent:* Friday, November 16, 2001 8:14 AM
>             *To:* 'kclug@kclug.org'
>             *Subject:* Unattached Inode
>
>             */ Dose this sound fimilar to any one /*
>
>              
>
>             Joshua B. Derck
>             IS Help Desk
>             Nazarene Publishing House
>             2923 Troost Ave.
>             Kansas City, MO 64141
>             816-931-1900 ext.429
>             josh@nph.com
>
>              
>