[PATCH 0/2] reiser4: node41 layout support

[PATCH 0/2] reiser4: node41 layout support

[Edward Shishkin]

Hi all,

The following patches introduce a new node format(plugin): node41.
The new node layout (node41) contains a 32-bit field. This is the
single difference from the old node format (node40).

The new field will be for meta-data checksums. Currently it is
filled with zeros.

This is an important example of how to add a plugin to reiser4.
Earlier file system developers used to design disk layouts "once
and forever". Any change in disk layouts of such poorly designed
file systems led to compatibility issues and ugly workarounds.
With reiser4 we don't have such problems.

Low-level interface to access the new field

1) in reiser4:

nh41_get_csum(node41_header *head);
nh41_set_csum(node41_header *head, __u32 val);

2) in reiser4progs:

nh41_get_csum(reiser4_node_t *node);
nh41_set_csum(reiser4_node_t *node, uint32_t val);

How to test the new feature:
WARNING: don't use it for important data for now!!!

. format a reiser4 partition with mkfs option "-o node=node41";
. mount as usual;
. use as usual: all previously implemented functionality has to
   work with the new node41 plugin;
. umount;
. debugfs.reiser4 -t /dev/xxx prints a new field CSUM for nodes
   of the new format (0 for now);
. fsck has to check/repair file systems with node41 layouts
   properly.

Please, report if any problems,

Thanks,
Edward.