## Basic setup 1. Install `zfs-dracut` 2. Set `mountpoint=/` for your root dataset (for compatibility, `legacy` also works, but is not recommended for new installations): ```sh zfs set mountpoint=/ pool/dataset ``` 3. Either (a) set `bootfs=` on the pool to the dataset: ```sh zpool set bootfs=pool/dataset pool ``` 4. Or (b) append `root=zfs:pool/dataset` to your kernel cmdline. 5. Re-generate your initrd and update it in your boot bundle Encrypted datasets have keys loaded automatically or prompted for. If the root dataset contains children with `mountpoint=`s of `/etc`, `/bin`, `/lib*`, or `/usr`, they're mounted too. ## cmdline 1. `root=` | Root dataset is… | Pools imported | -------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------| *(empty)* | the first `bootfs=` after `zpool import -aN` | all | `zfs:AUTO` | *(as above, but overriding other autoselection methods)* | all | `ZFS=pool/dataset` | `pool/dataset` | `pool` | `zfs:pool/dataset` | *(as above)* | `pool` | All `+`es are replaced with spaces (i.e. to boot from `root pool/data set`, pass `root=zfs:root+pool/data+set`). The dataset can be at any depth, including being the pool's root dataset (i.e. `root=zfs:pool`). 2. `spl_hostid`: passed to `zgenhostid -f`, useful to override the `/etc/hostid` file baked into the initrd. 3. `bootfs.snapshot`, `bootfs.snapshot=snapshot-name`: enables `zfs-snapshot-bootfs.service`, which creates a snapshot `$root_dataset@$(uname -r)` (or, in the second form, `$root_dataset@snapshot-name`) after pool import but before the rootfs is mounted. Failure to create the snapshot is noted, but booting continues. 4. `bootfs.rollback`, `bootfs.rollback=snapshot-name`: enables `zfs-snapshot-bootfs.service`, which `-Rf` rolls back to `$root_dataset@$(uname -r)` (or, in the second form, `$root_dataset@snapshot-name`) after pool import but before the rootfs is mounted. Failure to roll back will fall down to the rescue shell. This has obvious potential for data loss: make sure your persistent data is not below the rootfs and you don't care about any intermediate snapshots. 5. If both `bootfs.snapshot` and `bootfs.rollback` are set, `bootfs.rollback` is ordered *after* `bootfs.snapshot`. 6. `zfs_force`, `zfs.force`, `zfsforce`: add `-f` to all `zpool import` invocations. May be useful. Use with caution.