Post by @xrobau@mastodon.au

2026-08-09 05:27 UTC

@bob_zim@infosec.exchange I think that @LapTop006@aus.social is only caring about a backup server. The only reason to put a L2ARC in there is for the small chance of a pre-read getting into it, and if you have a SSD, you might as well give a bit of it to a ZIL. Then all he needs is a pile of 10TB spinning rust, and setting up sanoid, and he'll have a nice happy backup server.

Replies (2)

@LapTop006@aus.social 2026-08-09 05:50

@xrobau@mastodon.au @bob_zim@infosec.exchange I actually have spinning rust + SSD cache in the main server, but I want small and quiet for the backup box (because of where it needs to live in my house)

Open ##4460681
@bob_zim@infosec.exchange 2026-08-09 14:24

@xrobau@mastodon.au @LapTop006@aus.social A SATA SSD can make sense for a log or special vdev, but never really makes sense for a cache vdev. They’re too slow at mixed workloads, and a cache device always has a mixed workload. For an NVMe-only pool, AnyRaid may be worthwhile. It gives you the flexibility to use whatever drives you’re able to get without the smallest limiting capacity of the whole vdev. With five 1TB drives and one 256GB, raidz1 would give you 1.25TB, while AnyRaid would give you 4.25TB. It’s like how Drobo worked, but with ZFS durability and performance.

Open ##5043487