hesela.devZFS dataset clone
A ZFS dataset clone is a writable filesystem or volume created from a snapshot and initially sharing its data.
Origin dependency: the clone's origin property names its source snapshot; the snapshot's clones property lists the filesystems or volumes cloned from it. A different place in the dataset hierarchy does not remove this dependency. [1] [2]
Deletion scope: ordinary snapshot destruction fails while a dependent clone exists. For dataset destruction, -R can remove dependent clones even outside the target hierarchy, whereas -r follows child datasets. Inspect dependencies before any deletion. [3]
Copy scope: dataset cloning differs from file-level reflinks. It provides writable state, not a copy in another storage pool. [1] [4]
Relations
- related
- Storage snapshot, Copy-on-write (storage), Reflink, ZFS clone promotion, ZFS snapshot hold, ZFS bookmark, ZFS deferred snapshot destruction
Citations
- OpenZFS v2.3: zfsconcepts(7), dataset clones and block cloning
- OpenZFS v2.3: zfsprops(7), origin, clones, userrefs and defer_destroy
- OpenZFS v2.3: zfs-destroy(8), dependent and deferred destruction
- OpenZFS v2.3: zfs-clone(8), filesystem and volume clones
Sources & caveats
- Source review of OpenZFS v2.3 documentation; no pool, promotion or recovery experiment was performed.