As a combined file system and volume manager, ZFS can exhibit many different failures. This chapter outlines how to diagnose general hardware failures and then how to resolve pool device and file system problems. You can encounter the following types of problems:
General Hardware Problems – Hardware problems can impact your pool performance and the availability of your pool data. Rule out general hardware problems, such as faulty components and memory, before determining problems at a higher level, such as your pools and file systems.
ZFS storage pool problems
Data is corrupted – Resolving Data Problems in a ZFS Storage Pool
Configuration is damaged – Repairing a Damaged ZFS Configuration
System won't boot – Repairing an Unbootable System
Note that a single pool can experience all three errors, so a complete repair procedure involves finding and correcting one error, proceeding to the next error, and so on.