FSCK_EXT2FS(8)						    BSD System Manager's Manual 					    FSCK_EXT2FS(8)

NAME

     fsck_ext2fs -- ext2 File System consistency check and interactive repair

SYNOPSIS

     fsck_ext2fs [-dfnpUy] [-b block#] [-c level] [-m mode] filesystem ...

DESCRIPTION

     fsck_ext2fs performs interactive filesystem consistency checks and repair for each of the filesystems specified on the command line.  It is
     normally invoked from fsck(8).

     The kernel takes care that only a restricted class of innocuous filesystem inconsistencies can happen unless hardware or software failures
     intervene.  These are limited to the following:

     Unreferenced inodes
     Link counts in inodes too large
     Missing blocks in the free map
     Blocks in the free map also in files
     Counts in the super-block wrong

     These are the only inconsistencies that fsck_ext2fs in ``preen'' mode (with the -p option) will correct; if it encounters other inconsisten-
     cies, it exits with an abnormal return status.  For each corrected inconsistency one or more lines will be printed identifying the filesystem
     on which the correction will take place, and the nature of the correction.  After successfully correcting a filesystem, fsck_ext2fs will
     print the number of files on that filesystem and the number of used and free blocks.

     If sent a QUIT signal, fsck_ext2fs will finish the filesystem checks, then exit with an abnormal return status.

     Without the -p option, fsck_ext2fs audits and interactively repairs inconsistent conditions for filesystems.  If the filesystem is inconsis-
     tent the operator is prompted for concurrence before each correction is attempted.  It should be noted that some of the corrective actions
     which are not correctable under the -p option will result in some loss of data.  The amount and severity of data lost may be determined from
     the diagnostic output.  The default action for each consistency correction is to wait for the operator to respond yes or no.  If the operator
     does not have write permission on the filesystem fsck_ext2fs will default to a -n action.

     The following flags are interpreted by fsck_ext2fs.

     -b      Use the block specified immediately after the flag as the super block for the filesystem.	Block 8193 is usually an alternate super
	     block.

     -d      Print debugging output.

     -f      Force checking of file systems.  Normally, if a file system is cleanly unmounted, the kernel will set a ``clean flag'' in the file
	     system superblock, and fsck_ext2fs will not check the file system.  This option forces fsck_ext2fs to check the file system, regard-
	     less of the state of the clean flag.

     -m      Use the mode specified in octal immediately after the flag as the permission bits to use when creating the lost+found directory
	     rather than the default 1777.  In particular, systems that do not wish to have lost files accessible by all users on the system
	     should use a more restrictive set of permissions such as 700.

     -n      Assume a no response to all questions asked by fsck_ext2fs except for 'CONTINUE?', which is assumed to be affirmative; do not open
	     the filesystem for writing.

     -p      Specify ``preen'' mode, described above.

     -U      Resolve numeric userids to usernames.

     -y      Assume a yes response to all questions asked by fsck_ext2fs; this should be used with great caution as this is a free license to con-
	     tinue after essentially unlimited trouble has been encountered.

     Inconsistencies checked are as follows:
	   1.	Blocks claimed by more than one inode or the free map.
	   2.	Blocks claimed by an inode outside the range of the filesystem.
	   3.	Incorrect link counts.
	   4.	Size checks:
		      Directory size not a multiple of filesystem block size.
		      Partially truncated file.
	   5.	Bad inode format.
	   6.	Blocks not accounted for anywhere.
	   7.	Directory checks:
		      File pointing to unallocated inode.
		      Inode number out of range.
		      Dot or dot-dot not the first two entries of a directory or having the wrong inode number.
	   8.	Super Block checks:
		      More blocks for inodes than there are in the filesystem.
		      Bad free block map format.
		      Total free block and/or free inode count incorrect.

     Orphaned files and directories (allocated but unreferenced) are, with the operator's concurrence, reconnected by placing them in the
     lost+found directory.  The name assigned is the inode number.  If the lost+found directory does not exist, it is created.	If there is insuf-
     ficient space its size is increased.

     Because of inconsistencies between the block device and the buffer cache, the raw device should always be used.

DIAGNOSTICS

     The diagnostics produced by fsck_ext2fs are fully enumerated and explained in Appendix A of Fsck - The UNIX File System Check Program.

SEE ALSO

     fs(5), fstab(5), fsck(8), fsdb(8), newfs(8), reboot(8)

BSD
								  October 9, 2008							       BSD