While it's a couple of weeks old, in case it hasn't been seen by "those who need it", the folllowing thread on linux kernel discusses the fsync-and-IDE-writecache interactions. There is also a comment on MacOS X - I have no idea if that was already known, but I thought it might be worth pointing out.
http://www.uwsg.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0403.2/0527.html //Magnus ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- TIP 7: don't forget to increase your free space map settings
