[ale] NTFS-based systems at the installfest

[Chris Ricker]

On 8 Oct 2002, James P. Kinney III wrote:

> The ntfs module is not needed for dual boot support. It is only needed
> for read access to an ntfs partition. 

Right.  It's mildly convenient to have on the Linux side if you're 
dual-booting between an NTFS-based Windows and Linux, but it's not even that 
useful (since you're crazy if you use it non read-only).

> As ntfs write support is still VERY experimental, and will probably stay
> that way for a long time, not having on the default setup is actually a
> good thing. It keeps a CN (Clueless Newbie) from hosing their Win2K
> partition while logged in as root and blaming it on RedHat or Linux in
> general.
> 
> ntfs write support will probably always be a dangerous option as the
> filesystem for M$ seems to be changed about every major service pack.

FWIW, there are two reasons Red Hat doesn't include ntfs support.

1.  Even in read-only mode, it still occasionally causes data corruption
2.  There are potential legal issues surrounding the code

It's this second one that's the show-stopper.  If it were just the first, RH
would include it on the same basis as, say, Reiserfs (which they include,
but don't support if you use it, b/c it corrupts under heavy Cerberus runs).

later,
chris


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