How to use command line to create RaidZ

[aeterna]

The version of Freenas I'm using is 9.1.1

I need to create RaidZ1 pool using 3 drives, which are 3TB, 2TB and 1.5TB.
Since Raidz1 option is not shown in GUI ZFS volume manager.

From what I found in the forum
"http://forums.freenas.org/threads/raidz-on-different-sized-hdds.15161/"
there seems to be an option to use command line to create a RaidZ1 pool with different sized drives.

The reason to use RaidZ1 is for the ability of "autoexpand" and to keep the number of
physical drive to 3.

 

[Mr_N]

I wont repeat everything said in the other thread you linked to but...

The other option to increase the size of the pool is to add more raidz volumes later on and the pool will be striped across them...

I cant however recommend raidz, especially if you want to swap out your drives for bigger ones in the future, find another 1.5+TB drive and make it raidz2 :)

As for the basic commands your after:
http://docs.huihoo.com/opensolaris/solaris-zfs-administration-guide/html/ch04s03.html

 

[aeterna]

Thank you for reply.
I do understand the limitation on 3x1.5TB at the time of creation.
The autoexpand feature is stated at address below.
"http://doc.freenas.org/index.php/Volumes#Replacing_Drives_to_Grow_a_ZFS_Pool"
In that case, as you stated, I have to go through resilver process. (To upgrade 3TB, 2TB and 1.5TB to 3TBx3 in the future, resilver process takes two times total.)

 

[Mr_N]

Yeah I dont think that feature should be refered to as an "Autoexpand" feature because while it works, its degrading your pool in the process, and in the case of raidz pools exposing them to levels of failure during the resilver process, plus it gives n00bs the impression that you can just go adding drives to a pool in any way and increase your storage ;)

 

[aeterna]

Thank you for pointing to the command list.
I looked over the page but couldn't find option to enable full disk encryption.
(I wouldn't care much about this if it was possible to enable it after the creation of pool, but that is not possible.)

I'm sorry if I used the wrong term "Autoexpand," but that very behavior do just that so I didn't know how else to express it.
Obviously the best option is to have the same sized drive with necessary disk space to begin with,
but unfortunately I have to work around it somehow.

It would have been nice if there was an option to build Raidz pool at degraded status to begin with.
I know it sounds crazy, but the risk factor amounts to be about the same when compared with the processes I have to go through...ironically.

 

[Mr_N]

I think you can build them with a dummy file pretending to be a drive and then it ends up being a degraded pool, as for the encryption just use google im sure you'll find it :)

 

[Dusan]

I looked over the page but couldn't find option to enable full disk encryption.

It's because FreeBSD ZFS does not directly support encryption. FreeNAS adds the encryption via geli (http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?manpath=freebsd-release-ports&query=geli). It is possible to do everything from the command line, but unless you are really experienced with FreeNAS/ZFS/geli I would not recommend it. The best solution for you is to first install FreeNAS 8.3.2, create the pool there (it will allow mismatched drive sizes) and then upgrade to 9.1.1. You can also add your voice here: https://bugs.freenas.org/issues/3274

 

[Dusan]

I think you can build them with a dummy file pretending to be a drive

Please don't do that -- it's not that easy.

 

[aeterna]

Thank you for reply.
I did a search on dummy file method, but couldn't go that far.
I only wish I had experience to do all I want to do by command line...
The approach via FreeNAS 8.3.2 for mismatched drive sizes is very is to accomplish!
That should be noted for others to know in my opinion. (well, if there ever is an need for such a strange and unrecommended attempt)