ubuntu linux

Any one who have used Ubuntu Linux for longer than a month must have realized that every 30 times you boot up you are forced to run a file system check. This file system check is done, in order to keep your filesystem healthy. Turning the check off completely is generally not recommended. A solution is to increase the number of maximum mounts from 30 to some larger number like 100. But this solution is also not recommended.

AutoFsck is a set of scripts that replaces the file system check script(that comes shipped with Ubuntu). The difference is that AutoFsck doesn’t ruin your day if you are so unfortunate to encounter the 30th mount. The most important difference is that AutoFsck does its check during the shutdown process, not during boot(when you need your computer the most!).

The 30th time you mount your filesystem, AutoFsck will wait until you shut down your computer. It will then ask you if it is convenient for you to check your filesystem. If it is convenient for you, then AutoFsck will restart your computer, automatically execute the filesystem check, and then immediately power down your system. If it is not convenient for you to check your filesystem at that moment, then AutoFsck will wait until the next time you shut down your computer to ask you again. Being prompted for a file system check during shutdown is infinitely more convenient than being forced to sit through a 15 minute check during boot up.

Here is how you can change to AutoFsck.

1. Download the package. It is available on the project page ,(Direct link) .
2. Extract the contents of the archive to anywhere that is convenient for you.
3. Inside that folder, run the script called ‘install’.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.
5. AutoFsck will start working immediately.

I haven’t done much reading about whether or not this script will be included in the next release of Ubuntu, but I definitely think it should be. AutoFsck finally makes Ubuntu the ultimate distribution of Linux.