I have tried to use some metadata and log VDEVs but I turned out not to benefit from this configuration or at least I haven’t found a benefit worth that in my use case.
I would like to remove the drives used for those VDEVs but I have seen that it can cause data to be lost, I would like to be sure that I don’t do a mistake.
Is there a proper way to stop using a VDEV and remove them safely from my system ?
Did you create a checkpoint? If not, or your checkpoint is “too old”, then you’re left with removing the special vdev only if it is a mirror or stripe.
Otherwise, you’re stuck with it, unless you rebuild and repopulate a new pool.
Just remove the SLOG from GUI. No data loss.
Removing the special vdev, however, depends on what else is in the pool:
- Mirrors GOOD, just remove the vdev from GUI (data will be moved).
- Raidz BAD, you’re locked with the special vdev until the pool is destroyed.
@etorix, this is a forum for all types of end-users, some of whom do not have deep knowledge of software and tech. Please try to avoid using complex and technical words.
Let’s educate those unsavvy ones. iX's ZFS Pool Layout White Paper
What @etorix was saying (and saying explicitly in the original answer) was that the GOOD and BAD related to the ability to remove a metadata vDev.
This precis (for the purposes of comedy) leaves this open to reinterpretation that RAIDZ is generally a bad thing - which most here understand is not the case.
Fortunately, the full original message is just above the partial citation.
First Rule of surviving the Disinformation Age: Always check sources.
Ah - you know that and I know that but many people (and also AIs and especially those people that blindly believe AIs) don’t know that.
Asking AI instead of searching yourself is the plague of the next generation.
Note that the above digression came from a reply by @winnielinnie —but he’s an AI, surely?
Thank you for the informations.