From: Clemens Gruber <clemens.gruber@pqgruber.com>
Subject: Fast ext4 cleanup to avoid data loss after power failure
Date: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 15:09:31 +0200
Message-ID: <542EA00B.4040401@pqgruber.com>
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To: linux-ext4@vger.kernel.org
Sender: linux-ext4-owner@vger.kernel.org

Hi,

I am using ext4 as root filesystem of my TQMa28-based board with 2GB eMMC.
In case of a power failure I have to clean up the filesystem in 1.5 to 2
seconds, that's how long the caps can sustain the power.

I pass the following rootflags on the kernel cmdline: data=journal,commit=1
In my user space application I open important files with O_SYNC.

Is there something else I can or should do to avoid data corruption?

I can detect when the power fails over a GPIO line, so I close open file
descriptors in one important application but doing a "normal"
poweroff/shutdown takes too long.

What would you do if you had 1.5 seconds until the power is gone?

Maybe a read-only rootfs and a separate small data partition?

Thanks for your help.

Best regards,
Clemens