Exporting a ZFS Storage Pool

To export a pool, use the zpool export command. For example:

# zpool export tank

The command attempts to unmount any mounted file systems within the pool before continuing. If any of the file systems fail to unmount, you can forcefully unmount them by using the -f option. For example:

# zpool export tank
cannot unmount '/export/home/eschrock': Device busy
# zpool export -f tank

After this command is executed, the pool tank is no longer visible on the system.

If devices are unavailable at the time of export, the disks cannot be specified as cleanly exported. If one of these devices is later attached to a system without any of the working devices, it appears as “potentially active.”

If ZFS volumes are in use in the pool, the pool cannot be exported, even with the -f option. To export a pool with a ZFS volume, first make sure that all consumers of the volume are no longer active.

For more information about ZFS volumes, see ZFS Volumes.