# Create ZFS Pool & Datasets

> Create the ZFS mirror pool and datasets for media storage, downloads, and TV/movies.

# Create ZFS Pool & Datasets

The media storage uses a ZFS mirror pool. A mirror protects against a single disk failure and is the minimum recommended setup for data you care about.

## Create the pool

Run this on the Proxmox host. Replace `/dev/sdb` and `/dev/sdc` with your actual data disk names (check with `lsblk`):

```bash
zpool create tank mirror /dev/sdb /dev/sdc
```

This creates a pool named `tank` using a two-disk mirror. The pool name `tank` is used throughout this documentation.

Verify the pool was created:

```bash
zpool status tank
```

## Create datasets

Create separate datasets for media and downloads. Datasets give you finer control over compression, snapshots, and quotas later.

```bash
zfs create tank/media
zfs create tank/media/movies
zfs create tank/media/tv
zfs create tank/media/downloads
```

Verify:

```bash
zfs list
```

You should see:

```
NAME                   USED  AVAIL  REFER  MOUNTPOINT
tank                   ...   ...    ...    /tank
tank/media             ...   ...    ...    /tank/media
tank/media/movies      ...   ...    ...    /tank/media/movies
tank/media/tv          ...   ...    ...    /tank/media/tv
tank/media/downloads   ...   ...    ...    /tank/media/downloads
```

## Enable compression

ZFS compression is transparent and effectively free on modern hardware. Enable it on all datasets:

```bash
zfs set compression=lz4 tank/media
```

This applies to all child datasets automatically.

## Set ownership

Set the correct ownership so that the Plex LXC and Docker VM (both running as UID/GID 1000) can write to these paths:

```bash
chown -R 1000:1000 /tank/media
```

## Result

Storage is ready:

- `/tank/media/movies` — final movie library
- `/tank/media/tv` — final TV library
- `/tank/media/downloads` — download staging area

Continue to [Mount Storage into LXC & VM](/docs/home-server/media-automation/installation/mount-storage).