Best File System for Multimedia Files Storage

[Rashkae]

Amichai Rotman wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I have a 160G HDD with the following specs (output of  *hwinfo --disk*):
> 21: IDE 01.0: 10600 Disk
>   [Created at block.222]
>   UDI:
> /org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/storage_serial_1ATA_Hitachi_HDS721616PLA380_PVD300Z5R20NPK
>   Unique ID: DQI9.Q90kRm4Zwu7
>   Parent ID: w7Y8.Ds0ASHoxYT0
>   SysFS ID: /block/sdb
>   SysFS BusID: 0:0:1:0
>   SysFS Device Link:
> /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.2/host0/target0:0:1/0:0:1:0
>   Hardware Class: disk
>   Model: "Hitachi HDS72161"
>   Vendor: "Hitachi"
>   Device: "HDS72161"
>   Revision: "P22O"
>   Serial ID: "PVD300Z5R20NPK"
>   Driver: "ata_piix", "sd"
>   Driver Modules: "ata_piix"
>   Device File: /dev/sdb
>   Device Files: /dev/sdb,
> /dev/disk/by-id/scsi-1ATA_Hitachi_HDS721616PLA380_PVD300Z5R20NPK,
> /dev/disk/by-id/ata-Hitachi_HDS721616PLA380_PVD300Z5R20NPK,
> /dev/disk/by-path/pci-0000:00:1f.2-scsi-0:0:1:0
>   Device Number: block 8:16-8:31
>   Geometry (Logical): CHS 19457/255/63
>   Size: 312581808 sectors a 512 bytes
>   Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
>   Attached to: #4 (IDE interface)
> 
> I intend this drive for all my multimedia content (music, and video files).
> I do not intend to do any real time ripping (like recording from a capture
> device). This drive will serve as an archive that will be organized and
> accessed on a daily basis.
> 
> What I would like to know is: which is the best file system (and the tools /
> syntax) to use to format this drive.
> 
> Currently it is formated as an EXT3 FS and totals 149G. I am guessing it is
> possible to use a different FS while optimizing the performance with the
> right options to the format command...
> 
> Thanks!
> 

yes, it's possible to get better 'performance'.  Either JFS and XFS
would do.  However, having gone down this road several times in several
permutations, my *strong* advice is to stay as you are.

No matter what FS you choose, the file read speed on large files will be
100% dependant on hardware.  Filesystem performance will only come into
play when you start deleting/re-creating files.