Fresh install of PVE 8.2.2 to ZFS RAID1 leaves node's LVM with no volume groups and no unused disks.

[mbmast]

Just when I thought I finally got my first working installation of Proxmox up and running, I discover the LVM has no Volume Group and attempting to create a Volume Group results in the Create LVM Volume Group dialog box reporting "No Disks unused."

I'm running on a Supermicro MB with a RAID controller built in. I could not find where in the BIOS to disable RAID, but the Intel Rapid Storage Technology section of the BIOS reports there are no RAID volumes and shows all the individual drives as non-RAID drives. The drives include two 3.4TB Samsumg SSDs and two 7.6TB hard drives.

During installation, I choose the target to be the first SSD listed and I click Options, selecting ZFS RAID1 and choosing the remaining SSD to create the logical Volume. Installation completes normally and I sign in. The RAID1 volume appears to be named "rpool." Before realizing I have an LVM issue, I click on Disks > ZFS and create a second mirrored RAID volume using the two remaining hard drives. I name this RAID1 volume "data."

What is wrong? Why would the Proxmox installer produce an installation with no Volume Groups and no available drives to create a Volume Group?

Now for all of the screen shots that I anticipate readers will want to see:

 

[justinclift]

Ahhh. I think this is just a simple misunderstanding.

When you chose the 2x 3.84TB NVMe drives for your boot drives as mirrored storage, Proxmox saw that and set things up to use the superior ZFS system rather than the not-as-good LVM.

So, you should be good to add containers, VMs etc as you'd like. You'll just be using a non-LVM based approach for where things are stored.

That being said, if you're only used to LVM then it might take a bit of experimenting to really get the hang of how things work.

For the situations that Proxmox is used for though, ZFS is (in my opinion) much better than LVM.

Did you have a specific need for LVM, or it just more a case of being surprised?

 

[justinclift]

Oh, if you're ok with spending a bit of time learning the ZFS side of things, this could be useful:

https://arstechnica.com/information...01-understanding-zfs-storage-and-performance/

 

[mbmast]

I think I've figured this out now. Yes, of course, it's one or the other, not both. Thanks for the reply as I continue my slow ascent up the mountain of rusty razor blades that is the Proxmox (and Linux) learning curve.