Formating a hard drive specificly for linux Storage.

[ancients]

I want to format a hard drive specificly for linux Storage.
And my question is, what is the best file sytem for linux...
I know ntfs and fat drive partitions but other than the ext3 or ext for, I'm not sure.
The drive I wish to load is strickly for storage, internal 500gb.
I know there a few linux guru's who can answer this quiet easily, thanks.

[Nish]

when I asked that question a short time ago I was told ext4.  In my case it was an external USB drive.  I decided to go with ext3 because I was going to need windows to read it occasional and there is no app for ext4 yet.

If you are strictly linux and newer kernels with support for ext4 that would be the way to go.

OH - but I no guru so get more opinions 

[ancients]

Thanks thats why  I asked because so far ext4 seems to be what im after,
and I don't really want the windows system to read the drive, nothing to hide
I just don't like windows messing with my files.

[scoundrel]

I'd go with ext4 ..

[ancients]

Thanks scoundrel i'll give it a shot.

[pags]

If this is an external (i.e., USB) drive, and there is the slightest chance that it could get plugged into a Windows PC, I would recommend a small (32-128 MB) FAT partition at the beginning.  Otherwise, when Windows see the device, but realizes it can't read it, it will offer to "fix" it, and if the user haplessly clicks OK, it will format the (ext4, or whatever) partition and POOF!, there goes your data.
If there is a small FAT (or VFAT) partition at the beginning, Windows will mount it, and ignore the rest of the drive.

Just some extra info to keep in mind.  

EDIT:
Fixed spelling / grammar

[ancients]

Thank you that is what I was looking for, because that was excactly happened.
I will give it a shot a reply back.

[ancients]

Okay I must be missing something here... I've got a small 5gig partition for windows,
which windows wont see the rest of the drive BUT linux wont recognize the ext4 partition.
As I stated what am I missing, the mnt point

[Nish]

It takes a newer kernel in linux to recognize ext4.  It could be that you are running an older kernel without support for ext4.

uname -r

?

[Xero]

 I format my storage drives to ext3. That way, at least the ext2/3 driver for windows allows it to read and see them also. Ext4 is still not supported last I checked.