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Asked: 2024-09-26T20:53:16+05:30 In:

How can I efficiently remove multiple ZFS snapshots at once, and what steps should I follow to upgrade to a non-LTS version of Ubuntu?

I’m having a bit of a tough time with my ZFS setup and my Ubuntu version, and I was hoping someone here could lend me a hand. So, I’ve got a ton of ZFS snapshots piling up, and I know I can clean house a bit, but I’m looking for the most efficient way to remove multiple snapshots at once. I’ve read that doing this one by one can be a real drag, and to be honest, I’d rather not spend my entire evening in the terminal trying to prune them all manually.

I’ve seen folks use commands with `zfs destroy`, but I’m unsure about the best practices or if there are any neat tricks to make it quicker. Do you guys have any go-to methods or scripts that you use to batch delete snapshots? It would be awesome if you could share some examples because honestly, I want to make sure I don’t accidentally delete something I shouldn’t!

While we’re on the topic, I’m also considering upgrading my Ubuntu to a non-LTS version. I know there are some pros and cons to this, and I’m a little nervous about compatibility and stability issues. I’ve been on the LTS train for a while, and it feels cozy, but I really want to try out the latest features and improvements. If you’ve made a switch like this, what steps did you follow? Did you back up everything first, or is there a straightforward way to make the transition without a ton of hassle?

I guess I’m just looking for some advice on the whole process—from snapshot removal to the upgrade. If you’ve had experiences with either of these topics, I’d love to hear your tips, tricks, or even cautionary tales. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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    2 Answers



    1. ZFS Snapshots and Ubuntu Upgrade Tips

      ZFS Snapshot Deletion

      So, handling a bunch of ZFS snapshots can be a real headache, right? No worries, you can definitely batch delete them instead of going one by one!

      Here’s a handy command you can use to get rid of multiple snapshots at once: 

      zfs destroy yourpool/yourdataset@snapshot_name1 yourpool/yourdataset@snapshot_name2

      But instead of typing each snapshot name manually, you can use a command like this to delete all snapshots older than a certain date. Just make sure to tweak the date as needed: 

      zfs list -H -o name -t snapshot | grep "yourdataset@" | xargs -n 1 zfs destroy

      Or, if you want to go even further and only delete snapshots that are older than, say, 7 days, you could do something like this: 

      zfs list -H -o name -t snapshot | awk -F"@" '{print $1}' | uniq | xargs -I{} zfs destroy -r {}@$(zfs list -t snapshot -o name -s creation | grep {} | awk '{print $1}' | grep -E 'old_snapshot_pattern')

      Just remember to replace “yourdataset” and “old_snapshot_pattern” with your actual dataset and pattern for the snapshots you want to delete.

      Upgrading Ubuntu

      Now about the upgrade to a non-LTS version… it can be a bit of a rollercoaster ride! Upgrading can give you access to the latest and greatest features, but there’s definitely some risk involved since LTS versions are more stable.

      A good practice before you jump in would be to back everything up. Seriously, you don’t want to lose any data or settings during the upgrade.
      You can create a simple backup using: 

      tar -cvpzf backup.tar.gz --exclude=/backup /

      After that, when you’re ready to upgrade, you can follow these steps:

      1. Open a terminal.
      2. Run sudo do-release-upgrade, and make sure to adjust the settings in your sources.list to point to the new version.
      3. Follow the prompts on the screen.

      Make sure you keep an eye on compatibility for your applications and any third-party repositories you might be using—those might need to be updated too!

      If you run into issues, just remember the community is out there and happy to help. Good luck with everything!



    2. To efficiently remove multiple ZFS snapshots, you can use the `zfs destroy` command with the `-r` flag in combination with a wildcard or a more specific naming pattern that matches the snapshots you want to delete. For example, if your dataset is named `tank/data`, you can clear snapshots with a command like `zfs destroy -r tank/data@snap-*` to remove all snapshots starting with `snap-`. If you want to be more selective, combining `zfs list -t snapshot -o name | grep ‘pattern’ | xargs -n 1 zfs destroy` will allow you to delete snapshots selectively based on a given pattern. Just ensure you double-check which snapshots you’re about to delete by running `zfs list -t snapshot` first before executing the destroy command, to avoid unintended data loss.

      As for upgrading from an LTS version to a non-LTS version of Ubuntu, it’s essential to proceed with caution. Backing up your data is a critical step before making any upgrades. You’ll want to ensure that any important configurations and files are securely stored, ideally on a different drive or an external backup solution. Once you’ve backed up, you can change your `sources.list` file to point to the new version’s repositories, followed by running `sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade` to upgrade your packages. It’s a good practice to test the new version in a virtual machine or secondary environment first to check for compatibility with your software stack. Keep an eye on release notes for any potential issues related to your existing setup, as transitioning from an LTS can bring both new features and stability challenges.


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