OpenZFS instead of BTRFS

[Noel]

I know I'm asking a major change but how about switching to it. I've heard it's a pain to set-up. I just wanted to know your views. I'm a noob in this setting-up department. Also, if possible, anyone know any guides to replace btrfs with zfs.

[dalto]

It isn’t that hard, technically speaking. At one point in the past, a proof of concept ISO was created with zfs support.

However, since btrfs is fairly core to the Garuda experience, I don’t see a move to zfs to be likely in Garuda’s future.

@Noel

Also, if possible, anyone know any guides to replace btrfs with zfs.

I doubt there are any guides on how to do this. For Garuda there would basically be two broad steps:

• Build an ISO with zfs support. You would really only need to add zfs-dkms to the ISO. This is easy.
• Modify the Calamares configs for zfs. This is harder, you would have to go through all the config files and figure out which ones would need changing. I would give this a medium difficulty level. You would have to learn how Calamares works.

That being said, I don’t see much point in this. The resulting system wouldn’t really be Garuda anymore.

[SGS]

You are then on your own, we do not offer any support for this.

[BluishHumility]

@Noel

I’ve heard it’s a pain to set-up.

It sounds like you don’t have much experience using ZFS. Just curious: what is your motivation to switching to it?

You could try building up a Frankenstein machine like RodneyCK does by using a basic Arch installation and then layering the Garuda tools on top.

Garuda gnome doesn't have ext4

Unsupported by Garuda here, but I am not a big fan of btrfs yet. EXT4 seems to be faster on my systems, more responsive, plus I like other alternative backup systems (Timeshift, etc.) If you want something other than btrfs, I use ALCI or Arch Linux Calamares Installer (do a web search) which gets you pretty much a basic Arch install with the aid of a handy GUI. I then add the chaotic-aur repos which gives you access to all the Garuda default installs, etc. Never had an issue, using EXT4 with my …

You would be missing the benefit of some great tools, plus as Dalto mentioned the resulting system would not really be Garuda.

[RodneyCK]

@BluishHumility

You would be missing the benefit of some great tools…

I think the only “tools” that are missed are the ones that concern BTRFS, Snapper and I think there is a defrag tool for BTRFS, can’t remember. All the other Garuda “goodies” work fine.