Dan Langille
@langille.org
What tech related things (<= US$25) have you bought which have proven their value / usefulness?
I’m looking for gift ideas.
I’m looking for gift ideas.
November 24, 2025 at 12:26 AM
What tech related things (<= US$25) have you bought which have proven their value / usefulness?
I’m looking for gift ideas.
I’m looking for gift ideas.
The last test before doing this on production.
I moved zroot from a larger zpool to a smaller zpool. It is now a very straight forward process. The hardest part may be making use the old zroot no longer boots.
dan.langille.org/2025/11/23/t...
#FreeBSD #ZFS
I moved zroot from a larger zpool to a smaller zpool. It is now a very straight forward process. The hardest part may be making use the old zroot no longer boots.
dan.langille.org/2025/11/23/t...
#FreeBSD #ZFS
Test run – moving to a SATADOM based zpool (zroot) using zfs snapshot and send | recv – Dan Langille's Other Diary
dan.langille.org
November 23, 2025 at 4:48 PM
The last test before doing this on production.
I moved zroot from a larger zpool to a smaller zpool. It is now a very straight forward process. The hardest part may be making use the old zroot no longer boots.
dan.langille.org/2025/11/23/t...
#FreeBSD #ZFS
I moved zroot from a larger zpool to a smaller zpool. It is now a very straight forward process. The hardest part may be making use the old zroot no longer boots.
dan.langille.org/2025/11/23/t...
#FreeBSD #ZFS
I know many others have done this, but this is my first test procedure.
This shrinks a zpool by creating a new one on a different pair of drives in a zroot mirror.
In short:
zfs snapshot
zfs send | zfs receive
profit
dan.langille.org/2025/11/22/t...
#FreeBSD #ZFS
This shrinks a zpool by creating a new one on a different pair of drives in a zroot mirror.
In short:
zfs snapshot
zfs send | zfs receive
profit
dan.langille.org/2025/11/22/t...
#FreeBSD #ZFS
Test run – moving to a smaller zpool (zroot) using zfs snapshot and send | recv – Dan Langille's Other Diary
dan.langille.org
November 23, 2025 at 12:11 AM
I know many others have done this, but this is my first test procedure.
This shrinks a zpool by creating a new one on a different pair of drives in a zroot mirror.
In short:
zfs snapshot
zfs send | zfs receive
profit
dan.langille.org/2025/11/22/t...
#FreeBSD #ZFS
This shrinks a zpool by creating a new one on a different pair of drives in a zroot mirror.
In short:
zfs snapshot
zfs send | zfs receive
profit
dan.langille.org/2025/11/22/t...
#FreeBSD #ZFS
On this test host, #FreeBSD 14.3 gets wiped and installed on new devices on a regular basis.
Two days ago, mrsas worked fine. Yesterday, it would not. It's still mfi.
I have tried:
hw.mfi.mrsas_enable=”1″
in both /boot/loader.conf and /boot/device.hints
What gives?
Two days ago, mrsas worked fine. Yesterday, it would not. It's still mfi.
I have tried:
hw.mfi.mrsas_enable=”1″
in both /boot/loader.conf and /boot/device.hints
What gives?
November 22, 2025 at 1:56 PM
On this test host, #FreeBSD 14.3 gets wiped and installed on new devices on a regular basis.
Two days ago, mrsas worked fine. Yesterday, it would not. It's still mfi.
I have tried:
hw.mfi.mrsas_enable=”1″
in both /boot/loader.conf and /boot/device.hints
What gives?
Two days ago, mrsas worked fine. Yesterday, it would not. It's still mfi.
I have tried:
hw.mfi.mrsas_enable=”1″
in both /boot/loader.conf and /boot/device.hints
What gives?
Posted for Northern Europe friends.
November 21, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Posted for Northern Europe friends.
I just noticed that `gpart backup | gpart restore` does not always result in the same locations on disk.
dan.langille.org/2025/11/20/g...
dan.langille.org/2025/11/20/g...
gpart backup | gpart restore does not alway give you exact replication – Dan Langille's Other Diary
dan.langille.org
November 20, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I just noticed that `gpart backup | gpart restore` does not always result in the same locations on disk.
dan.langille.org/2025/11/20/g...
dan.langille.org/2025/11/20/g...
This test with file-based devices leads me to believe shrinking a ZFS mirror is possible.
The real test is trying it with partition based disk mirrors (e.g. /dev/adap3 instead of /tmp/0.raw)
gist.github.com/dlangille/25...
#ZFS #FreeBSD
The real test is trying it with partition based disk mirrors (e.g. /dev/adap3 instead of /tmp/0.raw)
gist.github.com/dlangille/25...
#ZFS #FreeBSD
can I reduce the size of a mirror zpool?
can I reduce the size of a mirror zpool? GitHub Gist: instantly share code, notes, and snippets.
gist.github.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:12 PM
This test with file-based devices leads me to believe shrinking a ZFS mirror is possible.
The real test is trying it with partition based disk mirrors (e.g. /dev/adap3 instead of /tmp/0.raw)
gist.github.com/dlangille/25...
#ZFS #FreeBSD
The real test is trying it with partition based disk mirrors (e.g. /dev/adap3 instead of /tmp/0.raw)
gist.github.com/dlangille/25...
#ZFS #FreeBSD
The first part of the test for reducing a zpool size has completed.
dan.langille.org/2025/11/19/m...
I went from two SATADOM drives to two SSDs.
From my local cafe, with coffee, like an adult.
For my next trick, I will move the zoot from 2x 1TB drives to 2x 128GB drives.
#FreeBSD #zfs
dan.langille.org/2025/11/19/m...
I went from two SATADOM drives to two SSDs.
From my local cafe, with coffee, like an adult.
For my next trick, I will move the zoot from 2x 1TB drives to 2x 128GB drives.
#FreeBSD #zfs
Moving a zpool from larger drives #ZFS #FreeBSD – Dan Langille's Other Diary
dan.langille.org
November 19, 2025 at 2:54 PM
The first part of the test for reducing a zpool size has completed.
dan.langille.org/2025/11/19/m...
I went from two SATADOM drives to two SSDs.
From my local cafe, with coffee, like an adult.
For my next trick, I will move the zoot from 2x 1TB drives to 2x 128GB drives.
#FreeBSD #zfs
dan.langille.org/2025/11/19/m...
I went from two SATADOM drives to two SSDs.
From my local cafe, with coffee, like an adult.
For my next trick, I will move the zoot from 2x 1TB drives to 2x 128GB drives.
#FreeBSD #zfs
Reposted by Dan Langille
smartctl output of the two SATADOM devices.
Interesting difference in power-on hours. I'd thought these were always used in pairs, I guess not.
gist.github.com/dlangille/05...
Interesting difference in power-on hours. I'd thought these were always used in pairs, I guess not.
gist.github.com/dlangille/05...
smart output for the two SATADOM devices
smart output for the two SATADOM devices. GitHub Gist: instantly share code, notes, and snippets.
gist.github.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:58 PM
smartctl output of the two SATADOM devices.
Interesting difference in power-on hours. I'd thought these were always used in pairs, I guess not.
gist.github.com/dlangille/05...
Interesting difference in power-on hours. I'd thought these were always used in pairs, I guess not.
gist.github.com/dlangille/05...
First use of the 2x SATADOM devices. Installed & booting on a test host. UEFI boot.This Dell R730 is 40s to the splash screen and 1:18 to the login prompt. Not a contest. I'm just saying....
The plastic needed a little cutting to fit completely down.
#FreeBSD
1/2
The plastic needed a little cutting to fit completely down.
#FreeBSD
1/2
November 16, 2025 at 5:56 PM
First use of the 2x SATADOM devices. Installed & booting on a test host. UEFI boot.This Dell R730 is 40s to the splash screen and 1:18 to the login prompt. Not a contest. I'm just saying....
The plastic needed a little cutting to fit completely down.
#FreeBSD
1/2
The plastic needed a little cutting to fit completely down.
#FreeBSD
1/2
November 14, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Those highly-anticipated (by me) SATADOM devices should arrive on Friday. I won't get to play with them until next week.
I've been thinking about them all week, knowing that I can't proceed with the storage work until they arrive.
I've been thinking about them all week, knowing that I can't proceed with the storage work until they arrive.
This is a game changer.
I am moving from 2.5" SATA SSDs for the OS to SATADOM modules.
www.ebay.com/itm/16787998...
2x 128GB SSD devices, directly attached to the Dell R730 MB.
I am moving from 2.5" SATA SSDs for the OS to SATADOM modules.
www.ebay.com/itm/16787998...
2x 128GB SSD devices, directly attached to the Dell R730 MB.
Pardon Our Interruption...
www.ebay.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Those highly-anticipated (by me) SATADOM devices should arrive on Friday. I won't get to play with them until next week.
I've been thinking about them all week, knowing that I can't proceed with the storage work until they arrive.
I've been thinking about them all week, knowing that I can't proceed with the storage work until they arrive.
This just in...
While `zpool replace` does not allow you to use a smaller drives, `zpool add` does.
re: mastodon.social/@bob_zim@inf...
re: bsd.network/web/@dvl/115...
While `zpool replace` does not allow you to use a smaller drives, `zpool add` does.
re: mastodon.social/@bob_zim@inf...
re: bsd.network/web/@dvl/115...
November 11, 2025 at 3:39 PM
This just in...
While `zpool replace` does not allow you to use a smaller drives, `zpool add` does.
re: mastodon.social/@bob_zim@inf...
re: bsd.network/web/@dvl/115...
While `zpool replace` does not allow you to use a smaller drives, `zpool add` does.
re: mastodon.social/@bob_zim@inf...
re: bsd.network/web/@dvl/115...
Should I move from BIOS booting to UEFI on my Dell R730?
I've never used UEFI on my hosts, and I'll be moving my zroot zpool to new devices soon.
#FreeBSD
I've never used UEFI on my hosts, and I'll be moving my zroot zpool to new devices soon.
#FreeBSD
November 11, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Should I move from BIOS booting to UEFI on my Dell R730?
I've never used UEFI on my hosts, and I'll be moving my zroot zpool to new devices soon.
#FreeBSD
I've never used UEFI on my hosts, and I'll be moving my zroot zpool to new devices soon.
#FreeBSD
This is a game changer.
I am moving from 2.5" SATA SSDs for the OS to SATADOM modules.
www.ebay.com/itm/16787998...
2x 128GB SSD devices, directly attached to the Dell R730 MB.
I am moving from 2.5" SATA SSDs for the OS to SATADOM modules.
www.ebay.com/itm/16787998...
2x 128GB SSD devices, directly attached to the Dell R730 MB.
Pardon Our Interruption...
www.ebay.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:21 PM
This is a game changer.
I am moving from 2.5" SATA SSDs for the OS to SATADOM modules.
www.ebay.com/itm/16787998...
2x 128GB SSD devices, directly attached to the Dell R730 MB.
I am moving from 2.5" SATA SSDs for the OS to SATADOM modules.
www.ebay.com/itm/16787998...
2x 128GB SSD devices, directly attached to the Dell R730 MB.
I have monitoring checks to ensure all zpools are fine (e.g. zpool status).
I don't have one which verifies a given list of zpools all exist.
I don't have one which verifies a given list of zpools all exist.
November 10, 2025 at 12:43 AM
I have monitoring checks to ensure all zpools are fine (e.g. zpool status).
I don't have one which verifies a given list of zpools all exist.
I don't have one which verifies a given list of zpools all exist.
Let’s see how this works.
November 9, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Let’s see how this works.
Parts ordered at MicroCenter - just waiting for "ready for pickup" signal and I'm off.
That means I'll be installing the new hardware today - instead of my usual wait-for-delivery process.
Blog post and photos later, perhaps today.
That means I'll be installing the new hardware today - instead of my usual wait-for-delivery process.
Blog post and photos later, perhaps today.
November 9, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Parts ordered at MicroCenter - just waiting for "ready for pickup" signal and I'm off.
That means I'll be installing the new hardware today - instead of my usual wait-for-delivery process.
Blog post and photos later, perhaps today.
That means I'll be installing the new hardware today - instead of my usual wait-for-delivery process.
Blog post and photos later, perhaps today.
It's upgrade from PostgreSQL 18-beta to 18.0
gist.github.com/dlangille/81...
With that started, let's head off to the coffee shop.
gist.github.com/dlangille/81...
With that started, let's head off to the coffee shop.
It's database upgrade time
It's database upgrade time. GitHub Gist: instantly share code, notes, and snippets.
gist.github.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:23 PM
It's upgrade from PostgreSQL 18-beta to 18.0
gist.github.com/dlangille/81...
With that started, let's head off to the coffee shop.
gist.github.com/dlangille/81...
With that started, let's head off to the coffee shop.
Sudden realization: A Dell R730 can fill up all the PCIe slots and contain 16x NVMe devices.
Say with 4TB devices = 64 TB.
Wow, that's ridiculous.
dan.langille.org/2025/11/08/r...
Say with 4TB devices = 64 TB.
Wow, that's ridiculous.
dan.langille.org/2025/11/08/r...
r730-01: storage plan – Dan Langille's Other Diary
dan.langille.org
November 8, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Sudden realization: A Dell R730 can fill up all the PCIe slots and contain 16x NVMe devices.
Say with 4TB devices = 64 TB.
Wow, that's ridiculous.
dan.langille.org/2025/11/08/r...
Say with 4TB devices = 64 TB.
Wow, that's ridiculous.
dan.langille.org/2025/11/08/r...
BSDCan — BSDCan
BSDCan is a technical BSD conference held in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
www.bsdcan.org
November 8, 2025 at 1:06 PM