---
name: "fsck.jfs"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "jfsutils"
version: "1.1.15-9"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/fsck.jfs"
---

# fsck.jfs(8)

initiate replay of the JFS transaction log, and check and repair a JFS formatted device

## NAME

**jfs\_fsck** - initiate replay of the JFS transaction log, and check and repair a JFS formatted device

## SYNOPSIS

**jfs\_fsck** \[ **-afnpvV** \] \[ **-j** *journal\_device* \] \[ **--omit\_journal\_replay** \] \[ **--replay\_journal\_only** \] *device*

## DESCRIPTION

**jfs\_fsck** is used to replay the JFS transaction log, check a JFS formatted device for errors, and fix any errors found.

*device* is the special file name corresponding to the actual device to be checked (e.g. **/dev/hdb1**).

**jfs\_fsck** must be run as root.

## WARNING

**jfs\_fsck** should only be used to check an **unmounted** file system or a file system that is mounted READ ONLY.  Using **jfs\_fsck** to check a file system mounted other than READ ONLY could seriously damage the file system!

## OPTIONS

If no options are selected, the default is **-p**.

- **-a**

  Autocheck mode - Replay the transaction log.  Do not continue fsck processing unless the aggregate state is dirty or the log replay failed.  Functionally equivalent to **-p**. Autocheck mode is typically the default mode used when **jfs\_fsck** is called at boot time.

- **-f**

  Replay the transaction log and force checking even if the file system appears clean.  Repair all problems automatically.

- **-j** *journal\_device*

  Specify the journal device.

- **-n**

  Open the file system read only.  Do not replay the transaction log.  Report errors, but do not repair them.

- **--omit\_journal\_replay**

  Omit the replay of the transaction log.  This option should not be used unless as a last resort (i.e. the log has been severely corrupted and replaying it causes further problems).

- **-p**

  Automatically repair ("preen") the file system.  Replay the transaction log.  Do not continue fsck processing unless the aggregate state is dirty or the log replay failed.  Functionally equivalent to **-a**.

- **--replay\_journal\_only**

  Only replay the transaction log.  Do not continue with a full file system check if the replay fails or if the file system is still dirty even after a journal replay.  In general, this option should only be used for debugging purposes as it could leave the file system in an unmountable state.  This option cannot be used with **-f**, **-n**, or **--omit\_journal\_replay**.

- **-v**

  Verbose messaging - print details and debug statements to stdout.

- **-V**

  Print version information and exit (regardless of any other chosen options).

## EXAMPLES

Check the 3rd partition on the 2nd hard disk, print extended information to stdout, replay the transaction log, force complete jfs\_fsck checking, and give permission to repair all errors:

-

  **jfs\_fsck -v -f /dev/hdb3**

-

  Check the 5th partition on the 1st hard disk, and report, but do not repair, any errors:

-

  **jfs\_fsck -n /dev/hda5**

-

  ## EXIT CODE

The exit code returned by **jfs\_fsck** represents one of the following conditions:

- **0**

  No errors

- **1**

  File system errors corrected and/or transaction log replayed successfully

- **2**

  File system errors corrected, system should be rebooted if file system was mounted

- **4**

  File system errors left uncorrected

- **8**

  Operational error

- **16**

  Usage or syntax error

- **128**

  Shared library error

## REPORTING BUGS

If you find a bug in **JFS** or **jfs\_fsck**, please report it via the bug tracking system ("Report Bugs" section) of the JFS project web site:

```
http://jfs.sourceforge.net/
```

Please send as much pertinent information as possible, including the complete output of running **jfs\_fsck** with the **-v** option on the JFS device.

## SEE ALSO

[**fsck**(8)](/fsck/8.md), [**jfs\_mkfs**(8)](/jfs_mkfs/8.md), [**jfs\_fscklog**(8)](/jfs_fscklog/8.md), [**jfs\_tune**(8)](/jfs_tune/8.md), [**jfs\_logdump**(8)](/jfs_logdump/8.md), [**jfs\_debugfs**(8)](/jfs_debugfs/8.md)

## AUTHORS

```
Barry Arndt  (barndt@us.ibm.com)
William Braswell, Jr.
```

**jfs\_fsck** is maintained by IBM.

```
See the JFS project web site for more details:
http://jfs.sourceforge.net/
```