In this guide I will demonstrate how you can install a fully functional full root on ZFS FreeBSD9 using a GPT scheme with a non legacy root ZFS mountpoint optimized for 4K drives. We will also use ZFS for SWAP.
You can use this as a reference guide for a single or mirror installation.
(1) Boot from a FreeBSD9 installation DVD or memstick and choose “Live CD”.
(2) Create the necessary partitions on the disk(s) and add ZFS aware boot code.
a) For a single disk installation.
gpart create -s gpt ada0 gpart add -b 34 -s 94 -t freebsd-boot ada0 gpart add -t freebsd-zfs -l disk0 ada0 gpart bootcode -b /boot/pmbr -p /boot/gptzfsboot -i 1 ada0B) Repeat the procedure for the second drive if you want a mirror installation.
gpart create -s gpt ada1 gpart add -b 34 -s 94 -t freebsd-boot ada1 gpart add -t freebsd-zfs -l disk1 ada1 gpart bootcode -b /boot/pmbr -p /boot/gptzfsboot -i 1 ada1(3) Align the Disks for 4K and create the pool.
a) For a single disk installation.
gnop create -S 4096 /dev/gpt/disk0 zpool create -o altroot=/mnt -o cachefile=/var/tmp/zpool.cache zroot /dev/gpt/disk0.nop zpool export zroot gnop destroy /dev/gpt/disk0.nop zpool import -o altroot=/mnt -o cachefile=/var/tmp/zpool.cache zrootB) For a mirror installation.
gnop create -S 4096 /dev/gpt/disk0 gnop create -S 4096 /dev/gpt/disk1 zpool create -o altroot=/mnt -o cachefile=/var/tmp/zpool.cache zroot mirror /dev/gpt/disk0.nop /dev/gpt/disk1.nop zpool export zroot gnop destroy /dev/gpt/disk0.nop gnop destroy /dev/gpt/disk1.nop zpool import -o altroot=/mnt -o cachefile=/var/tmp/zpool.cache zroot(4) Set the bootfs property and checksums.
zpool set bootfs=zroot zroot zfs set checksum=fletcher4 zroot(5) Create appropriate filesystems (feel free to improvise!).
zfs create zroot/usr zfs create zroot/usr/home zfs create zroot/var zfs create -o compression=on -o exec=on -o setuid=off zroot/tmp zfs create -o compression=lzjb -o setuid=off zroot/usr/ports zfs create -o compression=off -o exec=off -o setuid=off zroot/usr/ports/distfiles zfs create -o compression=off -o exec=off -o setuid=off zroot/usr/ports/packages zfs create -o compression=lzjb -o exec=off -o setuid=off zroot/usr/src zfs create -o compression=lzjb -o exec=off -o setuid=off zroot/var/crash zfs create -o exec=off -o setuid=off zroot/var/db zfs create -o compression=lzjb -o exec=on -o setuid=off zroot/var/db/pkg zfs create -o exec=off -o setuid=off zroot/var/empty zfs create -o compression=lzjb -o exec=off -o setuid=off zroot/var/log zfs create -o compression=gzip -o exec=off -o setuid=off zroot/var/mail zfs create -o exec=off -o setuid=off zroot/var/run zfs create -o compression=lzjb -o exec=on -o setuid=off zroot/var/tmp(6) Add swap space and disable checksums. In this case I add 4GB of swap.
zfs create -V 4G zroot/swap zfs set org.freebsd:swap=on zroot/swap zfs set checksum=off zroot/swap(7) Create a symlink to /home and fix some permissions.
chmod 1777 /mnt/tmp cd /mnt ; ln -s usr/home home chmod 1777 /mnt/var/tmp(8) Instal FreeBSD.
sh
cd /usr/freebsd-dist
export DESTDIR=/mnt
for file in base.txz lib32.txz kernel.txz doc.txz ports.txz src.txz;
do (cat $file | tar --unlink -xpJf - -C ${DESTDIR:-/}); done
(9) Copy zpool.cache (very important!!!)cp /var/tmp/zpool.cache /mnt/boot/zfs/zpool.cache(10) Create the rc.conf, loader.conf and an empty fstab (otherwise the system will complain).
echo 'zfs_enable="YES"' >> /mnt/etc/rc.conf echo 'zfs_load="YES"' >> /mnt/boot/loader.conf echo 'vfs.root.mountfrom="zfs:zroot"' >> /mnt/boot/loader.conf touch /mnt/etc/fstab
Reboot, adjust time zone info, add a password for root, add a user and enjoy!!!











