[OpenIndiana-discuss] ZFS pool move from one server to another?

[Carl Brewer]

On 3/02/2025 8:30 am, Bill Sommerfeld via openindiana-discuss wrote:
> On 2/2/25 12:53, Carl Brewer via openindiana-discuss wrote:
>> What I'd like to do :
>>
>> detach the raidz array "bigfish" from the new box, pull the drives out.
>
> Before you disconnect the storage, run "zpool export bigfish" on the 
> sending system.  Among other things it will clean up the cachefile on 
> the system which tells ZFS to expect the pool to be there at boot 
> time, as well as marking the on-disk pool as exported.
>
>> Detach the old raidz array "pond" on the old box, shut it down, 
>> remove the old HDDs
>>
>> Physically install the new drives in the old box
>>
>> Attach bigfish (zpool attach?)
>
> At this point, you run "zpool import" on the receiving box, check that 
> it produces output showing a complete pool is ready to import, and then
> "zpool import bigfish" on the receiving box here.
>
> "zpool import" without options will look for pools on its own and tell 
> you if it can find all the pieces.  If it reports missing devices this 
> gives you a chance to fix any cabling or other hardware issues before 
> going ahead with the import.
>
> Changes in device names are not a problem and are to be expected; ZFS 
> looks at the labels it puts at the start and end of each device which 
> identify which place in the pool is occupied by each device.
>
> You can look at these labels yourself with "zdb -l /dev/dsk/...".
>
> If you have some spare disks (even a couple usb sticks will do), I 
> recommend doing a test run with a pool you can afford to lose before 
> doing this for real on a pool you care about.
>
>

Thank you Bill et al, I'll check the zfs versions and give it a go, 
being sure to zpool export!

Carl