Extended file system (ext)

The Extended File System (Ext) is a family of file systems consisting of: ext, ext2, ext3, ext4

Ext2

ext2 or the second extended file system is a Linux filesystem designed as a replacement for ext. Note that ext3 is mostly compatible with ext2.

Ext3

ext3 or the third extended file system is a Linux filesystem. Its main advantage over ext2 is journalling which improves reliability and eliminates the need to check the file system after an unclean shutdown.

Ext4

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External Links

Ext2

• Wikipedia article on EXT2
• Layout of the EXT2 Filesystem
• Linux Ext2fs Undeletion mini-HOWTO
• Using ext2 on other systems

Ext3

• Wikipedia article on EXT3
• Why Recovering a Deleted Ext3 File Is Difficult (by Brian Carrier)

Tools

Tools that can be used to perform recovery of data from an EXT2 file system

• The Sleuth Kit
• R-Studio

Data carving tools that support the ext2 file system:

• Belkasoft Evidence Center
• Foremost
• Scalpel

Note that it is unclear what is meant with "support" here this needs some elaboration.