10/9/21, 5:51 AM How to Increase Disk Inode Number in Linux

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How to Increase Disk Inode Number in Linux

Ravi Saive Last Updated: January 9, 2020 Linux Commands 9 Comments

When a new file system is created on a partition on a disk in Linux, and the kernel keeps aside space for
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inodes during the initial structuring of the file system. The number of inodes within a file system directly
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affects the number of files (i.e the maximum number of inodes, and hence the maximum number of files, is
set when the file system is created).
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Recommended Read: How to Get Total Inodes of Root Partition

If all inodes in a file system are exhausted, the kernel can not create new files even when there is available
space on the disk. In this short article, we will show you how to increase the number of inodes in a file
system in Linux.

When creating a new file system on a partition, you can use the -i option to set the bytes-per-inode
(bytes/inode ratio), the larger the bytes-per-inode ratio, the fewer inodes will be created.

The following example shows how to create an EXT4 file system type with a small bytes-per-inode ratio
on a 4GB partition.

$ sudo mkfs.ext4 -i 16400 /dev/sdc1

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10/9/21, 5:51 AM How to Increase Disk Inode Number in Linux

Create EXT Filesystem with Smaller Inode Ratio

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Note: Once the file system is created, you can not change the bytes-per-inode ratio (unless you re-format
it), and resizing a filesystem changes the number of inodes to maintain this ratio.

Here is another example with a larger bytes-per-inode ratio.

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$ sudo mkfs.ext4 -i NoBroker.Com

196800 /dev/sdc1
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Create EXT Filesystem with Larger Inode Ratio

Besides, you can also use the -T flag to specify how the filesystem is going to be used so that 
mkfs.ext4 can choose optimal filesystem parameters for that use including the bytes-per-inode ratio.
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10/9/21, 5:51 AM How to Increase Disk Inode Number in Linux

The configuration file /etc/mke2fs.conf contains the different supported usage types and many other
configurations parameters.

In the following examples, the command tells that the file system will be used to create and/or store
largefile and largefile4 which offer more relevant ratios of one inode every 1 MiB and 4 MiB respectively.

$ sudo mkfs.ext4 -T largefile /dev/device

OR

$ sudo mkfs.ext4 -T largefile4 /dev/device

To check the inode usage of a file system, run the df command with the -i option (the -T option
shows the file system type).

$ df -i

OR

$ df -iT

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10/9/21, 5:51 AM How to Increase Disk Inode Number in Linux

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Check File System In Your
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We would like to know your thoughts about this article. Use the feedback form below to reach us. For
more information, see the mkfs.ext4 manpage.

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9 thoughts on “How to Increase Disk Inode Number in

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10/9/21, 5:51 AM How to Increase Disk Inode Number in Linux

Anup Singh
November 13, 2020 at 8:12 am

How Can I Increase Disk Inode Number Without Format Disk Or Using editing /etc/mke2fs.conf?

Please Let Me Know,

Thanks

Reply

Ravi Saive
November 13, 2020 at 12:11 pm

@Anup,

The number of inodes cannot be increased without formatting the disk.

Reply
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Br. Bill
November 9, 2020 at 11:15 pm

Are there any filesystems that have dynamically allocated inode storage that can be increased
on-demand, instead of fixed inode storage, which in this day and age seems quaint and kind of
dumb?

Reply

Kyle Foley
February 12, 2020 at 10:56 am 

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10/9/21, 5:51 AM How to Increase Disk Inode Number in Linux

Never mind I got it when I reread “When creating a new file system on a partition, you can use the
-i option to set the bytes-per-inode (bytes/inode ratio), the larger the bytes-per-inode ratio, the
fewer inodes will be created.”

Reply

Kyle Foley
February 12, 2020 at 10:53 am

Is the number after i a ratio or an integer. For example, will the number create exactly that
amount of inodes or a number divided by the size of the disk?

Reply

Rafael Pereira Ribeiro

January 2, 2021 at 3:02 pm

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Anyone can explain basically Partners
what is an inode?In Your City

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Reply

Ravi Saive
January 4, 2021 at 9:35 am

@Rafael,

An inode is a data structure that is used to store information of files on your Linux system. The
number of inodes shows the number of files and directories you have on the system.

Reply

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10/9/21, 5:51 AM How to Increase Disk Inode Number in Linux

Jalal
January 14, 2020 at 3:13 pm

Hi,

Very nice and useful article

thanks a lot

Reply

Aaron Kili
January 17, 2020 at 9:38 am

@Jalal

Many thanks for the useful feedback.

Reply
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