Metztli Reiser4 Files

Metztli Reiser4 d-i now offers a dialog hack option to format storage media with transparent compression via the Zstd plugin *if* 'Expert mode' is selected from the initial drop-down menu. For an overview of the procedure, please read elaboration at:

 < https://metztli.it/reiser4-zstd >

Please, *always* remember that if you format your / (root) partition with the reiser4 SFRN 4.0.2 file system -- with or without Zstd compression -- your /tmp partition should *also* be formatted with the reiser4 file system. Otherwise, you will encounter weird errors with applications like
 MySQL/MariaDB failing to properly install. You have been forewarned.
05-23-2025

Added support for 'discard' mount option for Reiser4 in Debian Installer (d-i) netboot USB/ISO image, because:

"Yep, reiser4 supports both, fstrim and discard [mount option for SSDs, SMR hard disks or thin provisioned storage]. So, there is a support (implemented ioctl) for fstrim(8) utility and a resp. mount option for discard. Moreover, reiser4 performs 'precise' discard. It means that once the discard is turned on on the mounted volume, the stuff (a set of on-disk units) which is a subject for discard, does not accumulate in time. So that fstrim becomes a kind of 'secondary option' which exists just to discard the stuff accumulated on disk for some 'curious' reasons, typically when the partition was formatted without -d option, or user forgot to mount the volume with 'discard' mount option."

Edward.
< https://github.com/edward6/reiser4/issues/18#issuecomment-2773704152 >
04-04-2025


Note: I have made available Metztli Reiser4 Z with kernel settings suitable for AMD64 RyZen. Updated reiser4 -patched kernel is to be installed; ISO/USB image differs by the addition of char -z- a place holder for AMD Ryzen / Epyc CPUs, as well as Tezcatlipoca's black letters in Debian-Installer (d-i) title:

< https://metztli.it/sites/default/files/inline-images/ryzen-Tezcatlipoca.png >

--End of Modified Note (09-12-2024)---

Additional note: substantial non-free firmware has been included and thus the netboot images have increased to ~310 MB


Tlahtollotl [HISTORY].

This Debian-Installer (d-i) is the only Stretch June, 17, 2017, release that I know which installed by default a Reiser4 (SFRN) 4.0.1 -patched Linux experimental kernel 4.11.

Now I have made it a habit of backporting newer kernels that you will not find in official Debian stable backports.

Reiser4, specifically Software Format Release Number (SFRN) 4.0.1 and 4.0.2, is also considered 'experimental software' being developed by one of the original developers. Notwithstanding, for a few years we have been provisioning and running custom reiser4 cloud images hosted on Google Compute Engine (GCE) as well as reiser4 -hacking installations into Intel and AMD Epyc / Ryzen bare metal servers without ever losing data on subsequent normal operation.

Metztli-Reiser4 is an effort to make accessible to a larger pool of no-bullsh...er, no-nonsense, entry-level || technical savvy individuals a native GNU / Linux Debian -based installation with the option to manipulate physical and/or virtual media, such as initializing || partitioning NVMe, SSD, and/or other disks and formatting vanilla or transparent compression (Zstd) in a superb file system which qualities are being dismissed by stunted intellects.

I am not interested in the sarcasm of individuals who will *never* 'do a solid' for reiser4 technology and instead cherry-pick on frivolous moralities and/or ethics that suit their biased mindsets[1]. Technology, and specifically FOSS, is a collective work by humans who are not perfect and are subject to irrationality.
[1] < https://metztli.blog/index.php/amatl/reiser-nahui/reiser5 >

As opposed to a previous Jessie-backport -- which incidentally someone pointed out to me that Debian is a protected trademark and 'Debian-Reiser4' was not acceptable distro submission for evaluation -- for Debian 9 (Stretch), Debian 10 (Buster), Debian 11 (Bullseye), and Debian 12 (Bookworm) I renamed this project as Metztli Reiser4.


OVERVIEW

These AMD64 Linux Metztli Reiser4 / Debian metaframework distribution hacks have been enhanced with a backported kernel, reiser4progs 1.2.x-y, GNU Parted enhanced to probe (only) reiser4 -formatted media, wireless-regdb 2019.06.03 backport for kernel 5.5.x[*], Zstd 1.4.x backport[*], and Zstd -compressed kernel and initramfs 0.136+wxyz (or higher) backport. Please note that Apparmor is purged at the end of the installation so as to prevent a potential GUI first boot Apparmor profiles hang issue. Nevertheless, after the first boot the user may re-install package as:
apt-get install apparmor
OR
apt-get -t bookworm-backports install apparmor

[*] Not in all cases.

Also, please note that recent Metztli Reiser4 kernels default to Zstd -compression and the installer will install corresponding initramfs package. If you have older/other existing kernels they may fail to boot -- as they usually default to GZIP compression.

Metztli-Reiser4 has only been tested in a limited manner, i.e., installation hacks to remote bare metal Intel and various AMD64 Epyc / Ryzen servers with NVMe, SSD, etc., as I have limited access to more varied physical infrastructure -- except for the cloud ( more specifically UpCloud and Google Compute Engine [GCE] ;-) -- where the kernel excels in my also limited up to 2TB custom virtual machine instances proof-of-concept (PoC).

You have been forewarned. If you still decide to download media, your constructive feedback and/or suggestions are welcomed.  Additionally, please do not submit installation bug reports to Debian -- even if successful installation -- as I used to do. Indeed, even if most of the installation is done from Debian's official repositories, the fact that Metztli-Reiser4 Debian installer (d-i) netboot has been modified to install software by a non-official developer is cause for rejection.

Tlazohcamati (Thank you) for trying out Metztli Reiser4.


Huelmati [Enjoy]!


Best Professional Regards.


P.S. Here is tip which I overlooked -- and hence not tested -- by Jordi L'Escala:

On my installation of Metztli, I found using the deadline scheduler and turning off all swap really sped things up with no stability issues.

In terminal as root:

1 echo deadline > /sys/block/sda/queue/scheduler

2 swapoff -a

(snip)

< https://metztli.blog/index.php/building-a-reiser4-patched-development?blog=4#c723 >