zfs 2.1 roadmap

We uploaded a bunch of kernels with newer ZFS versions yesterday:
  • Proxmox VE 6.4 (oldstable):
    • pve-kernel-5.4.143-1-pve (5.4.143-1) with ZFS 2.0.6
    • pve-kernel-5.11.22-5-pve (5.11.22-10~bpo10+1) with ZFS 2.0.6
  • Proxmox VE 7.0 (stable):
    • pve-kernel-5.11.22-5-pve (5.11.22-10) with ZFS 2.0.6
    • pve-kernel-5.13.14-1-pve (5.13.14-1) with ZFS 2.1.1
The 5.13 based kernel is still opt-in only, it will be the one we default to in Proxmox VE 7.1 (planned for 2021/Q4).
That means that 5.11 is slowly on its way out, and that's why we did not bother with updating the ZFS module there to the 2.1 series.

To test ZFS 2.1 and the 5.13 based kernel add the pvetest repo and do:
Bash:
apt update
apt full-upgrade
apt install pve-kernel-5.13
# -> reboot

Are you sure that pve-kernel 5.11 test ships with ZFS 2.0.6?

On my test node I see:

1632905204765.png
 
Are you sure that pve-kernel 5.11 test ships with ZFS 2.0.6?
Yes, pretty sure, I did the build ;)
https://git.proxmox.com/?p=pve-kernel.git;a=shortlog;h=refs/heads/pve-kernel-5.11

The thing is that we do not divide user-space tools per major version in separate packages as they're backward compatible anyway. So, if you just update but do not install the pve-kernel-5.13 package you'll get 2.1.1 user-space but 2.0.6 kernel module.

You can check both, user and kernel version with zfs -V, for example:
Bash:
zfs -V
zfs-2.1.1-pve1
zfs-kmod-2.0.6-pve1
uname -a
Linux prod2 5.11.22-5-pve #1 SMP PVE 5.11.22-10 (Tue, 28 Sep 2021 08:15:41 +0200) x86_64 GNU/Linux

And for 5.13 based kernel it looks like:
Bash:
zfs -V
zfs-2.1.1-pve1
zfs-kmod-2.1.1-pve1
uname -a
Linux prod1 5.13.14-1-pve #1 SMP PVE 5.13.14-1 (Tue, 28 Sep 2021 06:16:44 +0200) x86_64 GNU/Linux
 
Yes, pretty sure, I did the build ;)
https://git.proxmox.com/?p=pve-kernel.git;a=shortlog;h=refs/heads/pve-kernel-5.11

The thing is that we do not divide user-space tools per major version in separate packages as they're backward compatible anyway. So, if you just update but do not install the pve-kernel-5.13 package you'll get 2.1.1 user-space but 2.0.6 kernel module.

You can check both, user and kernel version with zfs -V, for example:
Bash:
zfs -V
zfs-2.1.1-pve1
zfs-kmod-2.0.6-pve1
uname -a
Linux prod2 5.11.22-5-pve #1 SMP PVE 5.11.22-10 (Tue, 28 Sep 2021 08:15:41 +0200) x86_64 GNU/Linux

And for 5.13 based kernel it looks like:
Bash:
zfs -V
zfs-2.1.1-pve1
zfs-kmod-2.1.1-pve1
uname -a
Linux prod1 5.13.14-1-pve #1 SMP PVE 5.13.14-1 (Tue, 28 Sep 2021 06:16:44 +0200) x86_64 GNU/Linux

Thomas, thanks for clarification.
Are they (user-space 2.1.1 and kernel 2.0.6 100% compatible?
 
In the future I will no longer use zfs anyway
*sad ZFS noises* :D
If you have the infrastructure to run Ceph in a serious manner thats a great alternative tho!

@t.lamprecht
Just booted into 5.13 on my workstation, running PVE & PBS together.
So far, nothing explodes. :D

1632935604760.png

ZFS also allows me to upgrade my pools to use the new 2.1 dRAID:

1632935664129.png
 
Last edited:
I am actually glad you kept 6.4 test kernel on 2.0.6, 2.0.6 probably less risky than 2.1 at the moment.

--

I just updated and it pulled down 5.11.22-4 not 5.11.22-5 and zfs still on 2.0.5..
 
Last edited:
I am actually glad you kept 6.4 test kernel on 2.0.6, 2.0.6 probably less risky than 2.1 at the moment.
Proxmox VE 6.4 is in bug & security fix only mode since the release of Proxmox VE 7.0, so we won't take in new feature releases of upstream project, iow. PVE 6.4 will stay on ZFS 2.0.x.

I just updated and it pulled down 5.11.22-4 not 5.11.22-5 and zfs still on 2.0.5..
As mentioned, it's only on the pvetest repository at time of writing, it will move to no-subscription in a bit and only later to the enterprise repository, at least if no issue pops up.
 
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Proxmox VE 6.4 is in bug & security fix only mode since the release of Proxmox VE 7.0, so we won't take in new feature releases of upstream project, iow. PVE 6.4 will stay on ZFS 2.0.x.


As mentioned, it's only on the pvetest repository at time of writing, it will move to no-subscription in a bit and only later to the enterprise repository, at least if no issue pops up.
Do you plan to update 5.11 kernel in pve 6.xx version to latest ZFS (2.0.7)? User-space tools was updated to 2.0.7 recently.
 

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