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    Proper steps for ZFS pave & (re)install on 6100

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    • stephenw10S
      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
      last edited by

      It's not the Netgate recommended setup that all 6100 users should re-install as ZFS. You can use the default install straight out of the box with no problems and we are not going to stop supporting UFS any time soon.

      There are no known issues with ZFS on the 6100, everything works.

      If it was my own device I would re-install as ZFS because doing so for me is trivial and downtime to re-install later is painful. I re-install pfSense many times every day. 😉

      Steve

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      • keyserK
        keyser Rebel Alliance @stephenw10
        last edited by keyser

        @stephenw10 How do we get the installer for pfSense+ (latest build) so we can start over?

        I’m using a SG-2100 right now (preparing my new sg-6100 for deployment), and restoreimages for that box comes as self deploying boot images - which means there are no guides or selection/configuration involved other than booting from the restore image USB.

        Love the no fuss of using the official appliances :-)

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        • stephenw10S
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
          last edited by

          The ZFS installer for the 2100 will be in 22.01 which should be available 'real soon now', discovery of new issues allowing!
          Those images are not available during testing.
          On the 6100 you can just install 21.05.2 as ZFS and upgrade to 22.01-RC if you need to.

          Steve

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          • keyserK
            keyser Rebel Alliance @stephenw10
            last edited by

            @stephenw10 Yeah, but how do I get the image for the 6100? Same proces (contact support) as with the 2100?
            Is the recovery image for AMD64 appliances a proper installer with the ZFS option?
            Does that mean the recovery image for ARM devices will also become an installer with the ZFS option from 22.01?

            Love the no fuss of using the official appliances :-)

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            • stephenw10S
              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
              last edited by

              Yes contact support for the 21.05.2 recovery image. On the 6100 it is the regular installer and you can select ZFS.
              For the 2100 the recovery image in 22.01 will include both images allowing you flash either UFS or ZFS. ZFS will be the default.

              Steve

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              • keyserK
                keyser Rebel Alliance @stephenw10
                last edited by

                @stephenw10 said in Proper steps for ZFS pave & (re)install on 6100:

                Yes contact support for the 21.05.2 recovery image. On the 6100 it is the regular installer and you can select ZFS.
                For the 2100 the recovery image in 22.01 will include both images allowing you flash either UFS or ZFS. ZFS will be the default.

                Steve

                Thanks for clarifying :-)

                Love the no fuss of using the official appliances :-)

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                • D
                  dnavas
                  last edited by

                  Thanks for laying all of this out. I had assumed I'd need to contact support, but it's good to have that verified. I intend to do the same thing onto a WD SN520 that I've got ... as soon as my 6100 arrives (ordered 12/11). Trying to moderate expectations given I have yet to hear anything with respect to shipment, but I appreciate living vicariously meantime! :)

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                  • stephenw10S
                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                    last edited by

                    I've never tested that drive but it looks like it should work. YMMV etc. 😉

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                    • E
                      ericafterdark
                      last edited by

                      What are the actual advantages of using ZFS with the 6100?

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                      • stephenw10S
                        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                        last edited by

                        The biggest advantage is that ZFS is a more robust file system. If you are installing somewhere that power cannot be guaranteed you are far less likely to have file system damage issues caused by outages.

                        Steve

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                        • E
                          ericafterdark @stephenw10
                          last edited by

                          @stephenw10 said in Proper steps for ZFS pave & (re)install on 6100:

                          The biggest advantage is that ZFS is a more robust file system. If you are installing somewhere that power cannot be guaranteed you are far less likely to have file system damage issues caused by outages.

                          Steve

                          Sounds good. I guess it'll be the first thing I'll do after receiving my unit.

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