Anyone knows how ZFS is in Express and Solaris? If I try ZFS raid with Express now because new version, and later wants to use Solaris when the new Solaris version arrives, will I have trouble with ZFS then? ZFS in Express has new features that ZFS Solaris doesnt have. Are there a way to convert Express ZFS to Solaris ZFS? Will there be problems?

I will assemble my new computer next week with ZFS Raid, and will report everything then. But, should I choose Express ZFS or Solaris ZFS?

Ok, it appears that it is possible to upgrade a ZFS version. So it should not matter if I use Express, because I will be able to upgrade ZFS. See at the bottom of:
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/doc/819...v?a=view#gcfhw

Is Express much different from Solaris? If I try the new version (Express) and then change to Solaris, I will quickly relearn?

Solaris Express is the preview release of next Solaris version (possibly Solaris 11), while Solaris 10 is the current release.
A ZFS pool / filesystem created with a recent Solaris Express won't be usable with a current Solaris 10. If you want to have the pool shared by both versions, you have to create it with Solaris 10.

To the rescue, again! : o )

I dont necessarily want the pool to be shared by both versions, I just wondered if I could try Express and then Solaris and just toy around a bit. But after your answer, I think I will stick to Solaris. (But I would like to use the next upgrade of Solaris, which should be out soon - twice a year, right?) I think I will go for the current Solaris release and then upgrade when the next version arrives. And, I can upgrade the pool too, then. You have saved me from much problems. Again. A quick question here, can save lots of hours!


Jilliagre, which solaris do you use? Express or Solaris 10?

Be precise, use Solaris 10 when you mean it, Solaris Express is definitely Solaris too.
Roughly, yes.
I almost only run Solaris Express on my machines. Despite its "beta" status, it's very reliable. I reinstall often and everytime a new feature I'm interested with is out.
I push Solaris Express everywhere, outside production platforms obviously.

I will buy and setup my ZFS Raid in a few hours! : o )

But, I wonder, should I choose Express or plain Solaris? I understand that Express supports more hardware and is more up to date. But... my concerns are
1. It is stable?
2. my ZFS pool wont work with Solaris 10, should I choose to use 10 instead. Maybe sometime if I wait, it will be possible to convert Express ZFS to 10? It shouldnt be impossible.
3. I like to try out things, and it should be smooth. Like, beryl/compiz, netbeans 5.5 (which comes preinstalled!).
4. If the differences between 10 and Express are too great, I have to relearn. I want the differences to be minor, so I dont have to relearn.
5. New Solaris 10 version is out soon, and maybe many of the features will be there? If I have Express ZFS raid, I cant change to plain solaris. For instance, Beryl/compiz REQUIRES a new build of Express. It wont work on plain solaris.

Jilliagre, my hero! Please answer this, before I setup my computer in a few hours! I will report also, about my SATA card in another thread.

Solaris Express releases are usually very stable. I never had a crash except when trying out broken and unsupported drivers.
There are few differences between 10 and Express: most commands and administration procedures are identical.

There is no way to reuse a newer version ZFS pool on an O/S supporting only an older version. Of course you can backup the underlying filesystems and recreate them on the older O/S but that won't work for snapshots outside creating plain filesystems from them.

: o )

Thanx so much for sharing your insights! I wonder, regarding ZFS, there is no way for an older OS version, to understand a new ZFS - but eventually the old version should get upgraded to newer.

Solaris Express has a new ZFS

Solaris 10 has a old ZFS, but after a upgrade Solaris 10 will have a new ZFS.

Eventually the ZFS versions will meet and get coordinated, I hope. That sounds reasonable? So I guess I'll go with the Express version. If it is good enough for Jilliagre, then surely it must be good enough for me!