SOLVED Not Sure on How Large a Dataset Can Be

[denaba]

When creating a dataset is there a limitation on how large it can be?

Reason I ask is I have media in 5 folders and they total up to a lot of TB's. I don't want to make a dataset for each if I can avoid it, but I do not want to miss out on the dataset features you can do.

So is ok to have just one large dataset folder with my media inside of it or better to breakout each of the 5 folders I have?

My use is 3 Windows 10 computers access the files. Not at once and pretty much nothing like what I see people here have. High time is one Win10 accessing the files anytime of the day. Very, very rare do two computers access the TrueNAS files.

Interested to see what you think about this. Thank you

 

[Ericloewe]

When creating a dataset is there a limitation on how large it can be?

Large of enough to be irrelevant.

I don't want to make a dataset for each if I can avoid it

Why not? Will you be treating them differently? Do they benefit from different properties like encryption, compression, etc.? Or maybe you might want to be able to move them independently using zfs send? If either of those applies, you'll need a dataset for that.

Is it just one huge monolithic blob? Then go with a single dataset.

 

[sretalla]

Or separate snapshot schedules...

 

[denaba]

@Ericloewe - yes it is currently one blob. I will create a single dataset to house everything.

If I do things separately it is going to get 'busier'. It is a home system and everyone just logs in from time to time to see their pictures, movies or home movies. For me it has to be simple so I can just hit and run to my next project (in this case a deck)

@sretalla - I thought about the separation of the folders; one dataset for each. But in the long run for this family one big dataset is a must. I just was not sure if there was a limitation on how big.

Thank you everyone.