Use same ZFS mirror for installation and VMs

[s1l3nce]

Hello,

I'm planning on building a PVE in two SATA SSDs in a ZFS mirror configuration (probably some second hand Intel DC S3610 or DC S4600). My question is if I could use the same mirror for VMs or if I should separate them. If it's better to keep them separated, how much space would I need for a Proxmox mirror install? Would small drives (under 100 GB) be good enough?

And if I still decide to keep the install and the VMs in the same mirror, what's the worst that could happen? A small reduction in performance?

Lastly, is it a good idea to buy the S3610 drives? or are there better alternatives nowadays?

Thank you for the help

 

[UdoB]

My question is if I could use the same mirror for VMs

Sure!

While my professional cluster separates OS from data/VMs "as it should be", my homelab with some Mini-PCs lacks the required number of connectors for some more disks.

The standard installation of PVE on two identical disks (be it NVMe or Sata) will give you one single ZFS pool called "rpool". This single pool will hold everything - the OS, directory storage for (for example) .iso's and blockdevices for virtual disks.

Works great for me - nevertheless: ymmv.

 

[s1l3nce]

Thank you UdoB! My plan is just to have 2 or 3 VMs (not even working simultaneously) and a fourth vm running Unraid with its own drives and nvme's.

Are the Intel's S3610 still a good choice? Or are there newer better alternatives that might have a similar price?

 

[UdoB]

Are the Intel's S3610 still a good choice?

Sorry, I can not tell. My own hardware base is too small to judge.

But yeah, for my Homelab I would take them. Actually I have bought refurbished ones of them to save some money (from a vendor with warranty, in Germany). That was a good decision for me.