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🗄️ Create a Storage Pool

Storage pools are the foundation of all data storage in MOS.
They define how disks are grouped, how data is protected, and which filesystems are used.

Pools are required for:

  • 📁 Shares
  • 🐳 Docker storage
  • 📦 LXC containers
  • 💻 Virtual machines
  • 📹Media and backup data

If you want to use ZFS, please take a look at the following section: ZFS

Example:

MOS Storage Pools

⚙️ Pool Configuration Fields​

🏷️ Name​

Defines the name of the storage pool.

Best practice:

  • ✅ Use short, descriptive names
  • ❌ Avoid spaces and special characters

Examples:

  • main
  • data
  • media
  • backup

🔄 Type​

Defines how disks are organized within the pool.

Available pool types:

  • single
  • multi
  • mergerfs
  • nonraid (requires additional driver)

Each type serves a different use case and offers different levels of redundancy and flexibility.

🧩 Pool Types Explained​

single​

Uses a single disk without redundancy.

Characteristics:

  • One disk per pool
  • Maximum usable capacity
  • No data protection

Use cases:

  • Appdata
  • Cache
  • Downloads
  • Media with external backups

Note: If the disk fails, data is lost. Backups are mandatory.

multi​

Uses multiple disks combined into a RAID-based pool.

Characteristics:

  • Multiple disks
  • Data protection depending on RAID level
  • Managed as a single pool

Available RAID levels:

  • raid0
  • raid1
  • raid5

📊 RAID Levels​

raid0​

Striping without redundancy

  • Maximum performance and capacity
  • No fault tolerance

Use case:
Temporary or non-critical data

raid1​

Mirroring

  • Data is mirrored across disks
  • High data safety
  • Reduced usable capacity

Use case:
Critical data, system pools, important shares

raid5​

Parity-based protection

  • Balance between capacity and redundancy
  • One disk can fail without data loss

Use case:
General data storage, media libraries

🧩 mergerfs​

Creates a pooled filesystem using multiple independent disks combined via mergerfs, optionally protected by SnapRAID.

Characteristics:

  • Disks remain independent
  • Flexible expansion
  • Parity handled separately via SnapRAID

Requirements:

  • One or more data disks
  • Optional SnapRAID parity disk

Use cases:

  • Media storage
  • Large data pools with mixed disk sizes
  • Home server and NAS setups

Filesystem recommendation:

  • xfs for data disks

nonraid​

Uses multiple independent disks without traditional RAID.

Characteristics:

  • Each disk has its own filesystem
  • Optional parity disk
  • Flexible and simple disk management

⚠️ Important: The nonraid driver is not installed by default, after installing the driver you have to reboot.

Installation (via MOS Hub)​

The NonRAID driver is not installed by default.

It must be installed as a plugin via the MOS Hub.

To install:

  • Open MOS Hub

  • Search for NonRAID Driver

  • Select the desired release

  • Click Install

  • Reboot the server

Use cases:

  • Simple parity-based storage
  • Easy disk replacement
  • Home server setups

🖥️ Devices​

Select the physical disks that will be assigned to the pool.

Notes:

  • Selected disks may be formatted
  • Existing data can be lost if formatting is enabled

Always verify disk selection carefully.

📦 Filesystem​

Defines the filesystem used by the pool.

Available options:

  • xfs
  • ext4
  • btrfs
  • vfat

Filesystem Recommendations​

  • xfs – Recommended default for most pools
  • ext4 – Simple and compatible, but less scalable
  • btrfs – Required for advanced features like snapshots
  • vfat – Only for removable or temporary storage

If you want to use ZFS, please take a look at the following section: ZFS

🛠️ Advanced Options​

🔄 Automount​

Automatically mounts the pool during system startup.

✅ Recommended: Enabled

🗑️ Format​

Formats the selected disks during pool creation.

⚠️ Warning:
Enabling this option will permanently delete all data on the selected disks.

🔐 Encrypt​

Enables disk encryption for the pool.

Notes:

  • Increases data security
  • Slight performance overhead
  • Encryption key must be stored securely

✅ Summary​

Choosing the correct pool type and filesystem is essential for a stable and reliable system.

Quick recommendations:

  • single + xfs → Appdata, cache, downloads
  • multi + raid1 → Critical data
  • multi + raid5 → General storage
  • mergerfs + SnapRAID → Media storage
  • mergerfs + nonraid → Flexible parity-based storage (driver required)

Plan your pool layout carefully before creating pools.

Parts of this documentation were created with the assistance of AI tools. All AI-generated content has undergone review, but it may still contain inaccuracies, omissions, or outdated information.