How to defrag an ext4 filesystem

Question

I don't want any answer saying that there's no need, please!

Answer 1

Use e4defrag to defrag your files

If your ext4 file system is created with the extent option (it's default in recent distros), you can use the e4defrag utility to check and defragment it online i.e. without umounting.

Just check fragmentation level with something like this (you need to be root to see details):

sudo e4defrag -c /path/to/myfiles

Here's an example of the output you can get:

$ sudo e4defrag -c iso/
<Fragmented files>                             now/best       size/ext
1. /home/gerlos/iso/debian-live-7.5.0-i386-rescue.iso
                                                 7/1         111177 KB
2. /home/gerlos/iso/systemrescuecd-x86-4.4.1.iso
                                                 4/1         100897 KB
3. /home/gerlos/iso/debian-live-7.5.0-amd64-rescue.iso
                                                 6/1         116053 KB
4. /home/gerlos/iso/ubuntu-14.04.2-server-amd64.iso
                                                 8/1          76160 KB
5. /home/gerlos/iso/ubuntu-14.10-desktop-amd64.iso
                                                15/1          75712 KB

 Total/best extents             40/5
 Average size per extent            90577 KB
 Fragmentation score                0
 [0-30 no problem: 31-55 a little bit fragmented: 56- needs defrag]
 This directory (iso/) does not need defragmentation.
 Done.

As in this example, most of the time it will tell you that no defragmentation is needed, but if you want to do it anyway you can use (you don't need to use sudo to defrag your own files):

e4defrag /path/to/myfiles

Your users can even run it on their own files, there's no need to be root unless you want to work on other user's or system files.

e4defrag is in the e2fsprogs package, and I guess it's already installed on your Ubuntu system.

Answer 2

Take a look on e2fsprogs. This is also available in the Ubuntu packages. It provides the program e4defrag.

Answer 3

Use Gparted to defrag your file system

If you have enough space on your hard drive, you can use Gparted to defrag your file system (ext2, ext 4, nfts, etc.). You have to boot from a CD/DVD/USB boot disc because the drive you're working on has to be unmounted. You also have to have more unused space available than used space for this to work and it may take a while.

• Boot from a boot disc.
• Run gparted and shrink the partition that contains the data you want to defrag to just over the amount of your data.
• Make sure the partition you want to defrag is the last partition on the drive by moving it to the end (you may have to create another blank partition in front of it if there's only one partition on the drive).

With the partition you want to defrag as the last partition on the drive:

• grow the partition to the left of it to maximum size. This will move your partitions data to the end of the drive.
• Once it's done, shrink that partition back to it's previous size.
• If you created a blank partition to have more than one on the disc, you can now delete it.
• Move your partitions back into the original order and regrow the partition you wanted defragged back to it's full size.

It's now defragged.

And I know you're not interested in why/why not to defrag ubuntu, but I'll post the link to why-is-defragmentation-unnecessary anyway.

Answer 4

Ubuntu 14.04 LTS does place (at least the primary drive) into EXT4 partition when installed on a clean install (not residing on top of Win-Junk).

In this case, if you have just set up a new system, or formatted fresh on an old system and then did a clean install, then by default with 14.04 LTS, you have an EXT4 Partition at /dev/sda1.

Now, just open a Terminal (CTRL-ALT-T) and type:

sudo e4defrag -c /dev/sda1

and be patient until the 'check' is completed and you get the fragmentation report back.

If you aren't confident about having an EXT4 Partition on your OS drive, simply go HOME and type df -T. Look to see what your sda* partitions are set to (try this in 14.04LTS, and you'll see EXT4 unless you chose another partition type upon harddrive setup).

We MUST stop making command-line so intimidating for 'latent Win-Junk users' who are just seeing the light. I say 'command-line' and my wife's eyes freeze in abstract terror, because I once told her that unlike Win-Junk, when UNIX was first programmed, they didn't feel they needed to ask you 12-times 'do you really, really want to delete this?' before they honored your DEL and eradicated the trash. Of all the things I have ever said, in 30-years of marriage, this is probably one of the only things she has ever taken to heart, and remembered forever.

I am only now getting her away from her fear of 'TERMINAL' and 'COMMAND-LINE' phrases, to where she will actually use Linux (then again, she's been using it for years in our home and work networks, and never realized it, either).