Veritas File System (VxFS) Cheat Sheet

This article is aimed at providing a list of basic and advanced commands and common information for Veritas File System (VxFS).

Compatibility

  • Solaris 2.5.1 -> vxfs 3.2.6, 3.3.2, 3.3.3
  • Solaris 2.6 -> vxfs 3.2.6, 3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.4
  • Solaris 7 -> vxfs 3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.4, 3.5
  • Solaris 8 -> vxfs 3.3.3, 3.4, 3.5
  • Solaris 9 -> vxfs 3.4(S9) To be EOLd upon release 3.5

Version

Check version with 'pkginfo -x VRTSvxfs'

Where Is It?

VxFS is purchased separately. It is NOT a Volume Manager and does not come with Volume Manager. 3.2.6 is available for FREE on Sunsolve as PATCH #108019. 3.2.6 is the absolute minimum a customer should be running. However, they are highly encouraged to upgrade to the latest version (3.3.3 as of 5/16/00). Customers can get it from sales or they can get upgrades from DDB (if it's under contract).

VxFS also requires a license. Permanent keys are obtained through sales.

Patches

3.2.6  ->  Solaris 2.5   108019 - Veritas File System 3.2.6: Patch
       ->  Solaris 2.5.1 108019 - Veritas File System 3.2.6: Patch
       ->  Solaris 2.6   108019 - Veritas File System 3.2.6: Patch
3.3.2  ->  Solaris 2.5.1 108473 
       ->  Solaris 2.6   108474
       ->  Solaris 2.7   108475 - (from Veritas ftp, see FIN #I0558-1)
3.3.3  ->  Solaris 2.5.1 108476 
       ->  Solaris 2.6   108477
       ->  Solaris 2.7   109298
       ->  Solaris 2.8   109299
3.4    ->  Solaris 2.6   110433
       ->  Solaris 2.7   110434
       ->  Solaris 2.8   110435 
3.5    ->  Solaris 2.7   113209 - Veritas VxFS 3.5: Cummulative patch for VRTSfspro 3.5,REV=GA0
6d
           Solaris 2.7   113205 - VERITAS File System 3.5: VxFS 3.5 MP1 Rolling Patch 02
       ->  Solaris 2.8   113210 - Veritas VxFS 3.5: Cummulative patch for VRTSfspro 3.5,REV=GA0
6d
           Solaris 2.8   113206 - VERITAS File System 3.5: VxFS 3.5 MP1 Rolling Patch 02
       ->  Solaris 2.9   113207 - VERITAS File System 3.5: VxFS 3.5 MP1 Rolling Patch 02

Packages to Install

  • VRTSvxfs - the product
  • VRTSfspro - the product (3.5 with vxvm)
  • VRTSfsdoc - documentation package (optional)

Basic VxFS Commands

Setting up a File System
ActionCommand Line
Make a VxFS file sytem mkfs -F vxfs [generic_options] [-o vxfs_operations] char_device [size]
Mount a file system mount -F vxfs [generic_options] [-o vxfs options] block_device mount_point
Unmount a file system umount mount_point
Determine file system type fstyp [-v] block_device
Report free blocks/inodes df -F vxfs [generic options] [y|Y] [n|N] character_device
Online Administration
ActionCommand Line
Resize a file sytem fsadm [-b newsize] [-r raw_device] mount_point
Dump a file system vxdump [options] mount_point
Restore a file system vxrestore [options] mount_point
Create a snapshot file system mount -F vxfs -o snapof=source_block_device,[snapshot=size>] destination_block_device snap_mount_point
Create a storage checkpoint fsckptadm [-nruv] create chkpt_name mount_point
List storage checkpoints fsckpradm [-clv] list mount_point
Remove a checkpoint fsckptadm [-sv] remove ckpt_name mount_point
Mount a checkpoint mount -F vxfs -o ckpt=ckpt name pseudo device mount_point
Unmount a checkpoint umount mount_point
Change checkpoint attribuates fsckptadm [-sv] set [nodata|nomount|remove] ckpt_name
Upgrade the VxFS layout vxupgrade [-nnew_version] [-r raw_device] mount_point
Display layout version vxupgrade mount_point
Defragmenting a File System
ActionCommand Line
Report on directory fragmentation fsadm -D mount_point
Report on extent fragmentation fsadm -E [-l largesize] mount_point
Defragment directories fsadm -d mount_point
Defragment extents fsadm -e mount_point
Reorganise a file system to support files > 2GB fsadm -c largefiles mount_point
Intent Logging, I/O types and Cache Advisories
ActionCommand Line
Change default logging behaviour fsck -F vxfs [generic_options] -o delaylog|tmplog|nodetainlog|blkclear block_device mount_pount
Change how VxFS handles buffered I/O operations mount F vxfs [generic_options] -o mincache=closesync|direct|dsync|unbufferred|tmpcache block_device mount_device
Change how VxFS handles I/O requests for files opened with O_SYNC and O_DSYNC mount -F vxfs [generic_options] -o convosync=closessync|direct|dsync|unbufferred|delay block_device mount_point
Quick I/O
ActionCommand Line
Enable Quick I/O at mount mount -F -o qio mount_point
Disable Quick I/O mount -F vxfs -o noqio mount_point
Treat a file as a raw character device filename::cdeb:vxfs:
Create a Quick I/O file through a symbolic link qiomkfile [-h header: size] [-a] [-s size] [-e|-r size] file
Get Quick I/O statistics qiostat [-i interval] [-c count] [-l] [-r] file
Enable cached QIO for all files in a file system vxtunefs -s -o qio_cache_enable=1 mount_point
Disable cached QIO for a file qioadmin -S filename=OFF mount_point