btrfs-progs/Documentation/btrfs-man5.rst

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btrfs-man5(5)
=============
DESCRIPTION
-----------
This document describes topics related to BTRFS that are not specific to the
tools. Currently covers:
#. mount options
#. filesystem features
#. checksum algorithms
#. compression
#. sysfs interface
#. filesystem exclusive operations
#. filesystem limits
#. bootloader support
#. file attributes
#. zoned mode
#. control device
#. filesystems with multiple block group profiles
#. seeding device
#. RAID56 status and recommended practices
#. storage model, hardware considerations
.. _man-btrfs5-mount-option:
MOUNT OPTIONS
-------------
.. include:: ch-mount-options.rst
.. _man-btrfs5-filesystem-features:
FILESYSTEM FEATURES
-------------------
The basic set of filesystem features gets extended over time. The backward
compatibility is maintained and the features are optional, need to be
explicitly asked for so accidental use will not create incompatibilities.
There are several classes and the respective tools to manage the features:
at mkfs time only
This is namely for core structures, like the b-tree nodesize or checksum
algorithm, see :doc:`mkfs.btrfs(8)<mkfs.btrfs>` for more details.
after mkfs, on an unmounted filesystem
Features that may optimize internal structures or add new structures to support
new functionality, see :doc:`btrfstune(8)<btrfstune>`. The command
:command:`btrfs inspect-internal dump-super /dev/sdx`
will dump a superblock, you can map the value of
*incompat_flags* to the features listed below
after mkfs, on a mounted filesystem
The features of a filesystem (with a given UUID) are listed in
*/sys/fs/btrfs/UUID/features/*, one file per feature. The status is stored
inside the file. The value *1* is for enabled and active, while *0* means the
feature was enabled at mount time but turned off afterwards.
Whether a particular feature can be turned on a mounted filesystem can be found
in the directory */sys/fs/btrfs/features/*, one file per feature. The value *1*
means the feature can be enabled.
List of features (see also :doc:`mkfs.btrfs(8)<mkfs.btrfs>` section
:ref:`FILESYSTEM FEATURES<man-mkfs-filesystem-features>`):
big_metadata
(since: 3.4)
the filesystem uses *nodesize* for metadata blocks, this can be bigger than the
page size
block_group_tree
(since: 6.1)
block group item representation using a dedicated b-tree, this can greatly
reduce mount time for large filesystems
compress_lzo
(since: 2.6.38)
the *lzo* compression has been used on the filesystem, either as a mount option
or via :command:`btrfs filesystem defrag`.
compress_zstd
(since: 4.14)
the *zstd* compression has been used on the filesystem, either as a mount option
or via :command:`btrfs filesystem defrag`.
default_subvol
(since: 2.6.34)
the default subvolume has been set on the filesystem
extended_iref
(since: 3.7)
increased hardlink limit per file in a directory to 65536, older kernels
supported a varying number of hardlinks depending on the sum of all file name
sizes that can be stored into one metadata block
free_space_tree
(since: 4.5)
free space representation using a dedicated b-tree, successor of v1 space cache
metadata_uuid
(since: 5.0)
the main filesystem UUID is the metadata_uuid, which stores the new UUID only
in the superblock while all metadata blocks still have the UUID set at mkfs
time, see :doc:`btrfstune(8)<btrfstune>` for more
mixed_backref
(since: 2.6.31)
the last major disk format change, improved backreferences, now default
mixed_groups
(since: 2.6.37)
mixed data and metadata block groups, i.e. the data and metadata are not
separated and occupy the same block groups, this mode is suitable for small
volumes as there are no constraints how the remaining space should be used
(compared to the split mode, where empty metadata space cannot be used for data
and vice versa)
on the other hand, the final layout is quite unpredictable and possibly highly
fragmented, which means worse performance
no_holes
(since: 3.14)
improved representation of file extents where holes are not explicitly
stored as an extent, saves a few percent of metadata if sparse files are used
raid1c34
(since: 5.5)
extended RAID1 mode with copies on 3 or 4 devices respectively
RAID56
(since: 3.9)
the filesystem contains or contained a RAID56 profile of block groups
rmdir_subvol
(since: 4.18)
indicate that ``rmdir(2)`` syscall can delete an empty subvolume just like an
ordinary directory. Note that this feature only depends on the kernel version.
skinny_metadata
(since: 3.10)
reduced-size metadata for extent references, saves a few percent of metadata
send_stream_version
(since: 5.10)
number of the highest supported send stream version
supported_checksums
(since: 5.5)
list of checksum algorithms supported by the kernel module, the respective
modules or built-in implementing the algorithms need to be present to mount
the filesystem, see *CHECKSUM ALGORITHMS*
supported_sectorsizes
(since: 5.13)
list of values that are accepted as sector sizes (:command:`mkfs.btrfs --sectorsize`) by
the running kernel
supported_rescue_options
(since: 5.11)
list of values for the mount option *rescue* that are supported by the running
kernel, see :doc:`btrfs(5)<btrfs-man5>`
zoned
(since: 5.12)
zoned mode is allocation/write friendly to host-managed zoned devices,
allocation space is partitioned into fixed-size zones that must be updated
sequentially, see *ZONED MODE*
SWAPFILE SUPPORT
----------------
.. include:: ch-swapfile.rst
.. _man-mkfs-checksum-algorithms:
CHECKSUM ALGORITHMS
-------------------
.. include:: ch-checksumming.rst
COMPRESSION
-----------
.. include:: ch-compression.rst
SYSFS INTERFACE
---------------
.. include:: ch-sysfs.rst
.. _man-btrfs5-fileysstem-exclusive-operations:
FILESYSTEM EXCLUSIVE OPERATIONS
-------------------------------
There are several operations that affect the whole filesystem and cannot be run
in parallel. Attempt to start one while another is running will fail (see
exceptions below).
Since kernel 5.10 the currently running operation can be obtained from
*/sys/fs/UUID/exclusive_operation* with following values and operations:
* balance
* balance paused (since 5.17)
* device add
* device delete
* device replace
* resize
* swapfile activate
* none
Enqueuing is supported for several btrfs subcommands so they can be started
at once and then serialized.
There's an exception when a paused balance allows to start a device add
operation as they don't really collide and this can be used to add more space
for the balance to finish.
FILESYSTEM LIMITS
-----------------
.. include:: ch-fs-limits.rst
BOOTLOADER SUPPORT
------------------
.. include:: ch-bootloaders.rst
FILE ATTRIBUTES
---------------
.. include:: ch-file-attributes.rst
.. _man-btrfs5-zoned-mode:
ZONED MODE
----------
.. include:: ch-zoned-intro.rst
CONTROL DEVICE
--------------
There's a character special device */dev/btrfs-control* with major and minor
numbers 10 and 234 (the device can be found under the 'misc' category).
.. code-block:: none
$ ls -l /dev/btrfs-control
crw------- 1 root root 10, 234 Jan 1 12:00 /dev/btrfs-control
The device accepts some ioctl calls that can perform following actions on the
filesystem module:
* scan devices for btrfs filesystem (i.e. to let multi-device filesystems mount
automatically) and register them with the kernel module
* similar to scan, but also wait until the device scanning process is finished
for a given filesystem
* get the supported features (can be also found under */sys/fs/btrfs/features*)
The device is created when btrfs is initialized, either as a module or a
built-in functionality and makes sense only in connection with that. Running
e.g. mkfs without the module loaded will not register the device and will
probably warn about that.
In rare cases when the module is loaded but the device is not present (most
likely accidentally deleted), it's possible to recreate it by
.. code-block:: bash
# mknod --mode=600 /dev/btrfs-control c 10 234
or (since 5.11) by a convenience command
.. code-block:: bash
# btrfs rescue create-control-device
The control device is not strictly required but the device scanning will not
work and a workaround would need to be used to mount a multi-device filesystem.
The mount option *device* can trigger the device scanning during mount, see
also :command:`btrfs device scan`.
.. _man-btrfs5-filesystem-with-multiple-profiles:
FILESYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE PROFILES
---------------------------------
It is possible that a btrfs filesystem contains multiple block group profiles
of the same type. This could happen when a profile conversion using balance
filters is interrupted (see :doc:`btrfs-balance(8)<btrfs-balance>`). Some
:command:`btrfs` commands perform
a test to detect this kind of condition and print a warning like this:
.. code-block:: none
WARNING: Multiple block group profiles detected, see 'man btrfs(5)'.
WARNING: Data: single, raid1
WARNING: Metadata: single, raid1
The corresponding output of :command:`btrfs filesystem df` might look like:
.. code-block:: none
WARNING: Multiple block group profiles detected, see 'man btrfs(5)'.
WARNING: Data: single, raid1
WARNING: Metadata: single, raid1
Data, RAID1: total=832.00MiB, used=0.00B
Data, single: total=1.63GiB, used=0.00B
System, single: total=4.00MiB, used=16.00KiB
Metadata, single: total=8.00MiB, used=112.00KiB
Metadata, RAID1: total=64.00MiB, used=32.00KiB
GlobalReserve, single: total=16.25MiB, used=0.00B
There's more than one line for type *Data* and *Metadata*, while the profiles
are *single* and *RAID1*.
This state of the filesystem OK but most likely needs the user/administrator to
take an action and finish the interrupted tasks. This cannot be easily done
automatically, also the user knows the expected final profiles.
In the example above, the filesystem started as a single device and *single*
block group profile. Then another device was added, followed by balance with
*convert=raid1* but for some reason hasn't finished. Restarting the balance
with *convert=raid1* will continue and end up with filesystem with all block
group profiles *RAID1*.
.. note::
If you're familiar with balance filters, you can use
*convert=raid1,profiles=single,soft*, which will take only the unconverted
*single* profiles and convert them to *raid1*. This may speed up the conversion
as it would not try to rewrite the already convert *raid1* profiles.
Having just one profile is desired as this also clearly defines the profile of
newly allocated block groups, otherwise this depends on internal allocation
policy. When there are multiple profiles present, the order of selection is
RAID56, RAID10, RAID1, RAID0 as long as the device number constraints are
satisfied.
Commands that print the warning were chosen so they're brought to user
attention when the filesystem state is being changed in that regard. This is:
:command:`device add`, :command:`device delete`, :command:`balance cancel`, :command:`balance pause`. Commands
that report space usage: :command:`filesystem df`, :command:`device usage`. The command
:command:`filesystem usage` provides a line in the overall summary:
.. code-block:: none
Multiple profiles: yes (data, metadata)
.. _man-btrfs5-seeding-device:
SEEDING DEVICE
--------------
.. include:: ch-seeding-device.rst
RAID56 STATUS AND RECOMMENDED PRACTICES
---------------------------------------
The RAID56 feature provides striping and parity over several devices, same as
the traditional RAID5/6. There are some implementation and design deficiencies
that make it unreliable for some corner cases and the feature **should not be
used in production, only for evaluation or testing**. The power failure safety
for metadata with RAID56 is not 100%.
Metadata
^^^^^^^^
Do not use *raid5* nor *raid6* for metadata. Use *raid1* or *raid1c3*
respectively.
The substitute profiles provide the same guarantees against loss of 1 or 2
devices, and in some respect can be an improvement. Recovering from one
missing device will only need to access the remaining 1st or 2nd copy, that in
general may be stored on some other devices due to the way RAID1 works on
btrfs, unlike on a striped profile (similar to *raid0*) that would need all
devices all the time.
The space allocation pattern and consumption is different (e.g. on N devices):
for *raid5* as an example, a 1GiB chunk is reserved on each device, while with
*raid1* there's each 1GiB chunk stored on 2 devices. The consumption of each
1GiB of used metadata is then *N * 1GiB* for vs *2 * 1GiB*. Using *raid1*
is also more convenient for balancing/converting to other profile due to lower
requirement on the available chunk space.
Missing/incomplete support
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
When RAID56 is on the same filesystem with different raid profiles, the space
reporting is inaccurate, e.g. :command:`df`, :command:`btrfs filesystem df` or
:command:`btrfs filesystem usage`. When there's only a one profile per block
group type (e.g. RAID5 for data) the reporting is accurate.
When scrub is started on a RAID56 filesystem, it's started on all devices that
degrade the performance. The workaround is to start it on each device
separately. Due to that the device stats may not match the actual state and
some errors might get reported multiple times.
The *write hole* problem. An unclean shutdown could leave a partially written
stripe in a state where the some stripe ranges and the parity are from the old
writes and some are new. The information which is which is not tracked. Write
journal is not implemented. Alternatively a full read-modify-write would make
sure that a full stripe is always written, avoiding the write hole completely,
but performance in that case turned out to be too bad for use.
The striping happens on all available devices (at the time the chunks were
allocated), so in case a new device is added it may not be utilized
immediately and would require a rebalance. A fixed configured stripe width is
not implemented.
STORAGE MODEL, HARDWARE CONSIDERATIONS
--------------------------------------
.. include:: ch-hardware-considerations.rst
SEE ALSO
--------
``acl(5)``,
:doc:`btrfs(8)<btrfs>`,
``chattr(1)``,
``fstrim(8)``,
``ioctl(2)``,
:doc:`mkfs.btrfs(8)<mkfs.btrfs>`,
``mount(8)``,
``swapon(8)``