ZFS As Root Filesystem On New Linux Machine?

I am new to Linux and will be building a storage server using either Ubuntu or Debian (haven't decided which, yet). I will be installing ZFS as the storage file system. What I need help with is choosing the Linux boot filesystem, which from my reading is the same thing as the root filesystem (please correct me if I'm wrong about this).

What I'd like to know from the community is whether or not using ZFS as both my storage filesystem and my boot/root filesystem is a good idea? I've read posts saying that ext4 is mature and battle-tested and that this is the filesystem that should be used to boot Linux. I also see a ton of posts asking about building new Linux machines using ZFS as the Linux boot filesystem. What are the risks for using ZFS instead of ext4 as the boot/root filesystem, if any?

Thanks In Advance For Your Help -

Solution 1:

I would not use ZFS as boot/root filesystem. For basic system setup, I would go with very well tested and fully integrated filesystems.

ZoL is awesome, but booting from it, or using it as root filesystem, can have some unexpected behavior with no real benefit. On the other hand, it is an excellent filesystem for your data/storage partition.

EDIT: from your comments it appears you don't know ZFS command line. Please stop here immediately: using a tool without understanding how it works is a recipe for disaster. Please only use filesystem whose tools you know, or documents yourself on ZFS before putting it in any use.

Solution 2:

I am using zfs as a root file system for ubuntu 14.04, both in single disk and in a mirror. I have three clones. No problem whatsoever: transparent compression, instant snapshots, incremental backups, data correction (in mirror) etc, etc.

The above comments seem that they don't know anything about ZFS on Linux (ZoL) and/or Linux.

Solution 3:

Don't use ZFS root.

If you're building a storage server, treat the storage separate from the OS. Generic ext4 or XFS is fine for the OS.

I'd also consider a RHEL or CentOS variant instead of Debian for ZFS. But that's preference (and battle experience).