zfs discuss - Jul 2010 - zpool on raw disk. Do I need to format?

Folks,

I am learning more about zfs storage. It appears, zfs pool can be created on a
raw disk. There is no need to create any partitions, etc. on the disk. Does this
mean there is no need to run "format" on a raw disk?

I have added a new disk to my system. It shows up as /dev/rdsk/c8t1d0s0. Do I
need to format it before I convert it to zfs storage? Or, can I simply use it
as:

# zfs create MyData /dev/rdsk/c8t1d0s0

Thank you in advance for your help.

Regards,
Peter
-- 
This message posted from opensolaris.org

Even easier, use the zpool create command to create a pool
on c8t1d0, using the whole disk. Try this:

# zpool create MyData c8t1d0

cs



On 07/01/10 16:01, Peter Taps wrote:
> Folks,
> 
> I am learning more about zfs storage. It appears, zfs pool can be created
on a raw disk. There is no need to create any partitions, etc. on the disk. Does
this mean there is no need to run "format" on a raw disk?
> 
> I have added a new disk to my system. It shows up as /dev/rdsk/c8t1d0s0. Do
I need to format it before I convert it to zfs storage? Or, can I simply use it
as:
> 
> # zfs create MyData /dev/rdsk/c8t1d0s0
> 
> Thank you in advance for your help.
> 
> Regards,
> Peter

Awesome. Thank you, CIndy.

Regards,
Peter
-- 
This message posted from opensolaris.org

> From: zfs-discuss-bounces at opensolaris.org [mailto:zfs-discuss-
> bounces at opensolaris.org] On Behalf Of Peter Taps
> 
> I am learning more about zfs storage. It appears, zfs pool can be
> created on a raw disk. There is no need to create any partitions, etc.
> on the disk. Does this mean there is no need to run "format" on a
raw
> disk?
No need to format.  Also, confusingly, the term "format"
doesn''t mean the
same here as it does in other situations.  "format" is what you use in
solaris to create partitions (slices) and a few other operations.

Without any partitions or slices, the disk will be called something like
c8t1d0.  But with a partition, it might be c8t1d0p0 or d8t1d0s0

Usually people will do as Cindy said.  "zpool create c8t1d0"
But depending on who you ask, there is possibly some benefit to creating
slices.  Specifically, if you want to mirror or replace a drive with a new
drive that''s not precisely the same size.  In later versions of zpool
(later
than what''s currently available in osol 2009.06 or solaris 10) they
have
applied a patch which works around the "slightly different disk size"
problem and eliminates any possible problem with using the whole disk.  So
generally speaking, you''re advised to use the whole disk, the easy way,
as
Cindy mentioned.  ;-)

> I have added a new disk to my system. It shows up as
> /dev/rdsk/c8t1d0s0. Do I need to format it before I convert it to zfs
> storage? Or, can I simply use it as:
Again, drop the "s0" from the above.  The "s0" means the
first slice on the
disk.

zpool create mypool c8t1d0