FSCK_EXT2FS(8) BSD System Manager's Manual FSCK_EXT2FS(8)NAMEfsck_ext2fs — ext2 File System consistency check and interactive repair
SYNOPSISfsck_ext2fs [-dfnpUy] [-b block#] [-c level] [-m mode] filesystem ...
DESCRIPTIONfsck_ext2fs performs interactive filesystem consistency checks and repair
for each of the filesystems specified on the command line. It is nor‐
mally invoked from fsck(8).
The kernel takes care that only a restricted class of innocuous filesys‐
tem inconsistencies can happen unless hardware or software failures
intervene. These are limited to the following:
Unreferenced inodes
Link counts in inodes too large
Missing blocks in the free map
Blocks in the free map also in files
Counts in the super-block wrong
These are the only inconsistencies that fsck_ext2fs in “preen” mode (with
the -p option) will correct; if it encounters other inconsistencies, it
exits with an abnormal return status. For each corrected inconsistency
one or more lines will be printed identifying the filesystem on which the
correction will take place, and the nature of the correction. After suc‐
cessfully correcting a filesystem, fsck_ext2fs will print the number of
files on that filesystem and the number of used and free blocks.
If sent a QUIT signal, fsck_ext2fs will finish the filesystem checks,
then exit with an abnormal return status.
Without the -p option, fsck_ext2fs audits and interactively repairs
inconsistent conditions for filesystems. If the filesystem is inconsis‐
tent the operator is prompted for concurrence before each correction is
attempted. It should be noted that some of the corrective actions which
are not correctable under the -p option will result in some loss of data.
The amount and severity of data lost may be determined from the diagnos‐
tic output. The default action for each consistency correction is to
wait for the operator to respond yes or no. If the operator does not
have write permission on the filesystem fsck_ext2fs will default to a -n
action.
The following flags are interpreted by fsck_ext2fs.
-b Use the block specified immediately after the flag as the super
block for the filesystem. Block 8193 is usually an alternate
super block.
-d Print debugging output.
-f Force checking of file systems. Normally, if a file system is
cleanly unmounted, the kernel will set a “clean flag” in the file
system superblock, and fsck_ext2fs will not check the file sys‐
tem. This option forces fsck_ext2fs to check the file system,
regardless of the state of the clean flag.
-m Use the mode specified in octal immediately after the flag as the
permission bits to use when creating the lost+found directory
rather than the default 1777. In particular, systems that do not
wish to have lost files accessible by all users on the system
should use a more restrictive set of permissions such as 700.
-n Assume a no response to all questions asked by fsck_ext2fs except
for ‘CONTINUE?’, which is assumed to be affirmative; do not open
the filesystem for writing.
-p Specify “preen” mode, described above.
-U Resolve numeric userids to usernames.
-y Assume a yes response to all questions asked by fsck_ext2fs; this
should be used with great caution as this is a free license to
continue after essentially unlimited trouble has been encoun‐
tered.
Inconsistencies checked are as follows:
1. Blocks claimed by more than one inode or the free map.
2. Blocks claimed by an inode outside the range of the filesys‐
tem.
3. Incorrect link counts.
4. Size checks:
Directory size not a multiple of filesystem block size.
Partially truncated file.
5. Bad inode format.
6. Blocks not accounted for anywhere.
7. Directory checks:
File pointing to unallocated inode.
Inode number out of range.
Dot or dot-dot not the first two entries of a directory
or having the wrong inode number.
8. Super Block checks:
More blocks for inodes than there are in the filesystem.
Bad free block map format.
Total free block and/or free inode count incorrect.
Orphaned files and directories (allocated but unreferenced) are, with the
operator's concurrence, reconnected by placing them in the lost+found
directory. The name assigned is the inode number. If the lost+found
directory does not exist, it is created. If there is insufficient space
its size is increased.
Because of inconsistencies between the block device and the buffer cache,
the raw device should always be used.
DIAGNOSTICS
The diagnostics produced by fsck_ext2fs are fully enumerated and
explained in Appendix A of Fsck - The UNIX File System Check Program.
SEE ALSOfs(5), fstab(5), fsck(8), fsdb(8), newfs(8), reboot(8)BSD October 9, 2008 BSD
