OpenZFS
An open-source filesystem and volume manager with built-in native encryption for datasets.
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About OpenZFS
OpenZFS combines a filesystem and a volume manager in one layer, so storage pools, datasets and their settings are managed together rather than through separate tools. Encryption is built in and can be enabled per dataset, which means sensitive data can be protected at the storage level without a separate encryption layer underneath.
It suits people running a home server, NAS or workstation who want encrypted storage managed by the same tool that handles their disks. It is administered from the command line.
Strengths
- Native per-dataset encryption
- Filesystem and volume management in one tool
- Open source
Limitations
- Command-line administration with a learning curve
- More than most single-disk desktop users need
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source.
- License
- Open source, license not stated
- Developer
- The OpenZFS contributors
- Platforms
- Linux, Command line
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Home servers and NAS builds that need encrypted storage pools
- Categories
- Disk tools, Encryption tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to OpenZFS
Compare allSoftware that can replace OpenZFS for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
cryptsetup and LUKS
The standard Linux full-disk encryption layer.
cryptsetup and LUKS is the standard Linux full-disk encryption layer with multiple key slots, but it encrypts block devices and leaves filesystem and volume management to other tools.
fscrypt
A command-line tool, written in Go, for managing native Linux filesystem encryption on ext4 and F2FS.
fscrypt encrypts individual directories on existing ext4 or F2FS filesystems using kernel encryption, without the storage pool and volume management OpenZFS provides.
VeraCrypt
Disk encryption that creates encrypted containers, encrypts whole partitions, and can encrypt the drive Windows boots from.
VeraCrypt adds Windows and macOS support with encrypted containers and full partitions, but it offers no pooled storage or dataset management.
Tomb
A minimalist Linux command-line tool that creates and manages encrypted LUKS volumes called tombs.
Tomb creates scriptable LUKS-based encrypted containers on Linux with separate key files, a narrower tool than a full filesystem and volume manager.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
Tahoe-LAFS
A decentralized storage system that spreads encrypted files across multiple servers you control.
Plakar
An open-source encrypted, deduplicating backup tool with snapshots and a web interface for browsing restores.
Shufflecake
A Linux tool for creating multiple hidden encrypted volumes that offer plausible deniability.
zuluCrypt
A Linux GUI and command-line tool for creating, opening and managing encrypted volumes and files.
gocryptfs
An encrypted overlay filesystem for Linux that encrypts each file individually, so cloud sync and backups only move what changed.
