Hello John, On Friday 18 August 2006 17:27, John Goerzen wrote: > Hi, > > In reading about the keepatime option and in reading the source, I think > there is a much better way to accomplish this, on Linux at least. > > On Linux, since 2.6.8, there is an O_NOATIME flag that can be passed to > open(2). The open(2) manpage states: > > O_NOATIME > (Since Linux 2.6.8) Do not update the file last access time > (st_atime in the inode) when the file is read(2). This flag is > intended for use by indexing or backup programs, where its use > can significantly reduce the amount of disk activity. This flag > may not be effective on all filesystems. One example is NFS, > where the server maintains the access time. > > I think it would be desirable to support this mechanism over the > keepatime mechanism, which calls utime() to modify the atime and has the > associated problems involving modifying the ctime. > > This would also *speed up* rather than slow down backups, since the > filesystem would not have to write updated metadata after each file was > accessed.
I am pleased to say that this option is implemented in version 1.39.x (and in the current 1.39 beta version). Here are my current ReleaseNotes on this item: - Apply a patch submitted by cesarb in bug #606 to implement O_NOATIME support. O_NOATIME is a open() flag which makes it possible to read a file without updating the inode atime (and also without the inode ctime update which happens if you try to set the atime back to its previous value). It also prevents a race condition when two programs are reading the same file, but only one does not want to change the atime. It's most useful for backup programs and file integrity checkers (and bacula can fit on both categories). You enable it in the Bacula FileSet Options resource by setting: noatime = yes The effect of this option is similar to the keepatime option except it is more efficient and avoids modifying ctime. Best regards, Kern > > -- John > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Using Tomcat but need to do more? Need to support web services, security? > Get stuff done quickly with pre-integrated technology to make your job easier > Download IBM WebSphere Application Server v.1.0.1 based on Apache Geronimo > http://sel.as-us.falkag.net/sel?cmd=lnk&kid=120709&bid=263057&dat=121642 > _______________________________________________ > Bacula-users mailing list > Bacula-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bacula-users > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Using Tomcat but need to do more? Need to support web services, security? Get stuff done quickly with pre-integrated technology to make your job easier Download IBM WebSphere Application Server v.1.0.1 based on Apache Geronimo http://sel.as-us.falkag.net/sel?cmd=lnk&kid=120709&bid=263057&dat=121642 _______________________________________________ Bacula-users mailing list Bacula-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bacula-users