fsck - file system check

Use fsck to check and repair a file system. **The file system must be unmounted when being check and repaired to prevent corruption! **

The root file system can not be unmounted and checked. Two possible options to check the system are:

• Force the Root Filesystem to use fsck during reboot, The Geek Stuff covers this well in, How to Force Check Root Filesystem using fsck During Reboot. A summary of key commands:
• The Root file system is automatically checked at certain intervals. To check this: sudo tune2fs -l /dev/sda1 | grep -i check.
• To force a recheck at the next reboot, create the file forcefsck. At the next reboot a fsck will be performed and the forcefsck file removed. Commands:
  • cd /
  • sudo touch forcefsck
• Boot the system to a rescue file system. From the rescue file system the main boot drive may then be checked with fsck. (Further details not given.)

• To check current mounted disks use df -h
• To check current disks use sudo fdisk -l. (This is a disk partition command. Be careful with use.)
• To check current disks use sudo parted -l. (This is a disk partition command, more modern than fdisk. Be careful with use.)
• To check directory size use sudo du --max-depth=1 --all -h
• The filesystem boot file is /etc/fstab, sudo vim /etc/fstab. (Be careful with editing this.)
• To check ext2/3/4 file system information and configuration of a partition sudo tune2fs -l /dev/sdX

Home Server Index

The ‘’lsblk’’ command has a lot of information returned. The ‘’tune2fs’’ command is used by the system administrator to change/modify tunable parameters on ext2, ext3 and ext4 type filesystems. The command to display filesystem information is ‘’tune2fs -l /dev/sda2’’. The ‘’df’’ command lists current mounted disks.

• lsblk by itself give the basic drive partition and mount point information.
• lsblk -o NAME,MODEL,SERIAL,WWN,HCTL,MOUNTPOINT gives more comprehensive information:
  • WWN is a unique identifier ode list on the drive
  • HCTL lists the drive sata port
• lsblk –help to list all the options