Using ZFS Storage Pools Within a Zone

ZFS storage pools cannot be created or modified within a native zone. The delegated administration model centralizes control of physical storage devices within the global or kernel zone and control of virtual storage to native zones. Although a pool-level dataset can be added to a native zone, any command that modifies the physical characteristics of the pool, such as creating, adding, or removing devices, is not allowed from within a native zone. Even if physical devices are added to a native zone by using the zonecfg add device command, or if files are used, the zpool command does not allow the creation of any new pools within the native zone.

Kernel zones are more powerful and more flexible in terms of data storage management. Devices and volumes can be delegated to a kernel zone, much like a global zone. Also, a ZFS storage pool can be created in a kernel zone.