[zfs-discuss] How to delete hundreds of emtpy snapshots

[Ben Rockwood]

zfs list is mighty slow on systems with a large number of objects, but there is no foreseeable plan that I'm aware of to solve that "problem".  

Never the less, you need to do a zfs list, therefore, do it once and work from that.

zfs list > /tmp/zfs.out
for i in `grep mydataset@ /tmp/zfs.out`; do zfs destroy $i; done


As for 5 minute snapshots.... this is NOT a bad idea.  It is, however, complex to manage.  Thus, you need to employ tactics to make it more digestible.  

You need to ask  yourself first why you want 5 min snaps. Is it replication?  If so, create it, replicate it, destroy all but the last snapshot or even rotate them.  Or, is it fallback in case you make a mistake?  Then just keep around the last 6 snapshots or so.

zfs rename & zfs destroy are your friends.... use them wisely. :)

If you want to discuss exactly what your trying to facilitate I'm sure we can come up with some more concrete ideas to help you.

benr.
 
 
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