Arch Linux

noctlos

Member

Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 36

Can I convert zfs to btrfs?

I have my arch installation on a zfs partition. Ideally, I would not have to wipe it to convert to btrfs. does anyone here have insight into that? Thanks!

ANOKNUSA

Member

Registered: 2010-10-22

Posts: 2,141

Re: Can I convert zfs to btrfs?

No. EXT3/EXT4 are the only filesystems that can be converted to BTRFS, and starting with a clean filesystem is preferable anyway.

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severach

Member

Registered: 2015-05-23

Posts: 192

Re: Can I convert zfs to btrfs?

Any in place conversion is dangerous. A power loss at the wrong time and you could lose it all. What if the new file system fubars your data?

Buy another disk if necessary and get started with Full system backup with rsync.

Awebb

Member

Registered: 2010-05-06

Posts: 6,321

Re: Can I convert zfs to btrfs?

If your Arch partiton is less than 50% full, you could shrink it, create a new partition, copy the data (use cp with the right flags or rsync with the right flags), delete the old partition and resize the new. This is the "safe" way to migrate a file system. Then again you're dealing with zfs, so a clone or tarball on a second disk might be the best option.