ZFS focus on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS: ZSys properties on ZFS datasets We are almost done in our long journey presenting our ZFS work on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. The last piece to highlight is how we annotate datasets with some user properties to store metadata needed on boot and on state revert. As we stated on our ZSys presentation article, one of the main principles is to avoid using a dedicated database which can quickly go out of sync with the real system: we store - and thus, rely - only on ZFS properties that are set on the datasets themselves.

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ZFS focus on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS: ZSys dataset layout After looking at the global partition layout when you select the ZFS option on ubuntu 20.04 LTS, let’s dive in details what are exactly inside those ZFS pools, I name bpool and rpool! We are mainly focusing on two kinds of ZFS datasets: filesytem datasets and snapshot datasets. We already eluded to them multiple times in previous blog posts, but if you want to follow this section, I highly recommend following this couple of ZFS tutorials (setup and basics and snapshot and clones) or watching this introduction.

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ZFS focus on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS: ZSys partition layout We have covered ZSys quite extensively over the past blog posts, from what’s new to its functionalities in details. It’s now time to look at the other part of the system: what happens when you install your system? Which partition layout and why are we choosing this one? What ZFS datasets are created and how do we lay them out? We will answer to all those questions from this part of the blog post series.

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ZFS focus on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS: ZSys for system administrators Now that we covered the basics ZSys functionalities, I think you realize that the system is generally fully transparent to the users. However, most of system administrators are more likely to want to deep dive in more details on how you can tweak those behavior and observe more information on the current status. We getting more technical from now on and for the rest of the series covering ZSys & ZFS on ubuntu 20.

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ZFS focus on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS: ZSys state collection In the past couple of articles, we explained the core state concept of ZSys, and when we create state saves in particular. A lot of those operations are automated either on a time-scheduled (user states save), on system changes (installation, upgrade or removal for system states) and also when you ask a revert to a previous states. Even if individually, the cost of a state save is really low, this creates more and more ZFS datasets over time that will take some disk space.

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ZFS focus on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS: ZSys commands for state management In the previous article, we presented the core state concept of ZSys. This one will focus more on how you can manage states, when we are taking them automatically or manually and way more general considerations. A lot to cover, so let’s go! zsysctl commands related to states Most of commands related to states are grouped under the zsysctl machine and zsysctl state subcommands.

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ZFS focus on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS: ZSys sate management After our previous general presentation of ZSys, it’s “”“time”“” to deep dive to one of its main predominant feature: state management! Why calling that state and not simply ZFS snapshots? A little technical detour first. as this question will necessarily arise, especially from those familiar with ZFS concepts. What is a state, and what’s the difference with snapshots? We have purposively chosen the “state” terminology to prevent system administrators and in general, all those familiar with ZFS to confuse if with snapshot datasets.

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ZFS focus on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS: ZSys general presentation In our previous blog post, we presented some enhancements and differences between Ubuntu 19.10 and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS in term of ZFS support. We only alluded to ZSys, our ZFS system helper, which is now installed by default when selecting ZFS on root installation on the Ubuntu Desktop. It’s now time to shed some lights on it and explain what exactly ZSys is bringing to you.

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ZFS focus on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS: what’s new? Ubuntu has supported ZFS as an option for some time. In 19.10, we introduced experimental support on the desktop. As explained by then, having a ZFS on root option on our desktop was only a first step in what we want to achieve by adopting this combined file system and logical volume manager. I strongly suggest you read the 2 above blog posts as introductions to this blog series we are starting.

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ZFS on root This is part 2 of our blog post series on our current and future work around ZFS on root support in ubuntu. If you didn’t yet read the introductory post, I strongly recommend you to do this first! Here we are going to discuss what landed by default ubuntu 19.10. Upstream ZFS On Linux We are shipping ZFS On Linux version 0.8.1, with features like native encryption, trimming support, checkpoints, raw encrypted zfs transmissions, project accounting and quota and a lot of performance enhancements.

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