Proper steps for ZFS pave & (re)install on 6100
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@stephenw10 cool, thanks. Yep the link is: https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/install/install-zfs.html#other-options
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@luckman212 definitely let us know how things go for you moving to ZFS. This is a transition that we are obviously tracking closely, so the more data points the better. Thanks for the feedback!
(Hint: check out the new UI widgets in 22.01 snapshots if you're running development branch!)
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@cmcdonald Will do! I saw that nice little sneak peek of it in your last WG Project Report 011 vid. Haven't updated to 22.01 yet but I'm planning to this coming Tuesday. Thanks.
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a question if i may on this subject:
after making a full backup of the system. then reformatting using ZFS> do you have to alter or change the backup.xml before before you restore the file?
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No, you can restore the config file as you would normally.
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@stephenw10 said in Proper steps for ZFS pave & (re)install on 6100:
Yes, that looks good. That's exactly what I do to install ZFS.
SteveA few questions on this, as I am considering an SG-6100:
- Is ZFS now preferred? Is it generally recommended by Netgate?
- Do new 6100's currently come loaded with ZFS?
- If my unit comes in new with UFS, does Netgate recommend to reinstall using ZFS?
Thanks,
Pete -
We are moving towards ZFS as the default but we're not there yet. New 6100s ship with a UFS install and that is still the most tested type but we do test ZFS. I'm running it here on a 6100 without issue.
Since switching between the filesystems requires reinstalling moving to ZFS before the unit is deployed is much easier.Steve
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@stephenw10 Thank you Stephen for swift reply. Yes indeed I understand that I would want to perform the move to ZFS prior to deployment, hence this question.
In order to make a good decision I asked you:Is ZFS now preferred? Is it generally recommended by Netgate?
Which you somewhat implicitly appear to confirm by saying:
[...] a UFS install and that is still the most tested type but we do test ZFS. I'm running it here on a 6100 without issue.
So from that I conclude that switching to ZFS is the best thing to do for new 6100 unboxers. Would you agree? Or is it too early to say, for example have all packages and features been tested successfully?
Thanks,
Pete -
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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@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.
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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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@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? -
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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@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 :-)
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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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I've never tested that drive but it looks like it should work. YMMV etc.
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What are the actual advantages of using ZFS with the 6100?
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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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@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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