I would like to know what is a vdev in plain and simple words

[Ernie411]

Hello,

I'm back with a simple question: what the f*ck is a vdev.
I'm trying to expand my array of discs with two more hard drives but i know keep running in to the same bullshit called a vdev.
Yes i know there's a topic by Cyberjock but that's Abracadabra to me.
So i'm asking you to tell me in plain and simple words what is a vdev and how do i create a second one.

 

[cyberjock]

In plain and simple terms, its a virtual device (vdev). A vdev is a group of disks that are pooled together to form a virtual device. That's really all there is to it.

On a much deeper level you have things like transactions and other things that make vdevs special, but unless you plan to decode and debug the ZFS code they really only add more confusion.

 

[SweetAndLow]

Hello,

I'm back with a simple question: what the f*ck is a vdev.
I'm trying to expand my array of discs with two more hard drives but i know keep running in to the same bullshit called a vdev.
Yes i know there's a topic by Cyberjock but that's Abracadabra to me.
So i'm asking you to tell me in plain and simple words what is a vdev and how do i create a second one.

The manual has all of this info in very simple words and usualy easy steps. https://doc.freenas.org/9.10/freenas_storage.html#extending-a-zfs-volume

 

[Mirfster]

Per the Manual:

ZFS supports the addition of virtual devices, known as vdevs, to an existing ZFS pool. A vdev can be a single disk, a stripe, a mirror, a RAIDZ1, RAIDZ2, or a RAIDZ3. Once a vdev is created, you cannot add more drives to that vdev; however, you can stripe a new vdev (and its disks) with the same type of existing vdev in order to increase the overall size of ZFS the pool. In other words, when you extend a ZFS volume, you are really striping similar vdevs.

 

[Mirfster]

There is an "Intro to FreeNas" video (that used to be a free training class) that is located here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcrxG6aDAa8&feature=youtu.be

Might be worth it to give it a view... ;)

 

[Ernie411]

@SweetAndLow
I know that but the problem is this: i don't know how to get there.
Do i have to import a disc or a volume?

 

[Ernie411]

@SweetAndLow
I know that but the problem is this: i don't know how to get there.
Do i have to import a disc or a volume?

 

[SweetAndLow]

@SweetAndLow
I know that but the problem is this: i don't know how to get there.
Do i have to import a disc or a volume?

There is a big difference between being helpless and asking for help. You are being helpless right now and that will not get you anywhere. Lots of people gave you the answer and I also pointed you to the next step of how to do it.

The “Volume to extend” drop-down menu in Storage ‣ Volumes ‣ Volume Manager,

 

[Ernie411]

The problem with me is that i am Dutch and English is not my native language.
So if you can not or will not explain in plain and simple words how to expand the disc array then i would say: never mind!

 

[Jailer]

The problem with me is that i am Dutch and English is not my native language.
So if you can not or will not explain in plain and simple words how to expand the disc array then i would say: never mind!

Then you might be better off asking in your native language so nothing is lost in the translation. The answers given thus far are about as simple as they can get.

 

[Ernie411]

Can i do that over here?
I mean can i do that in this forum or do i have to go to a Dutch Forum?

 

[SweetAndLow]

Can i do that over here?
I mean can i do that in this forum or do i have to go to a Dutch Forum?

https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?forums/dutch-nederlands.35/

dose this help?

 

[Ernie411]

Yes, that does help a lot.

 

[danb35]

but i know keep running in to the same bullshit called a vdev.

Aside from the language issue, it would probably help focus the replies a bit if you gave a bit of information about the "bullshit called a vdev". Presumably it gave you an error message; posting that error message could help us understand where the issue is (my WAG would be that it's the common mismatched vdev error, which FreeNAS will throw if you try to add to a pool a vdev of a different number of disks than the vdev(s) currently in the pool).

Otherwise, the best, simplest, and clearest possible explanation of what a vdev is, is what @cyberjock posted above.