Zfs with encryption install doesn't boot after install from current Ubuntu 25.04 ISO

Support and Help
1

Hello,

I wanted to test an install of ubuntu on my laptop but it doesn’t boot after installation.
I have choosen zfs filesystem with encryption, basic desktop installation with fr-CA locales.

I have a message that the install is done but when I try to reboot : it’s not bootable. The ubuntu 25.04 choice is not in grub menu. The install is a waste. I can see the zfs bpool and rpool but it’s not bootable and grub doesn’t even select it. I would have appreciate a message at install not to install zfs because the zfs module isn’t ready for 6.14 kernel

Will it be possible to correct installation when zfs-dkms is available for 6.14 kernel ???
Any hint to make this installation bootable ???

Please help!
Thanks,
BT
Edit: I have seen that kernel 6.13 is at end of life at kernel.org. zfs is in need of kernel 6.14 …

2

And it has it:

 Kernel  Linux 6.14.0-15-generic

ZFS is still deemed Experimental, along with encryption.
I’ve been using ZFS since 16.04 thru 25.04, my results were excellent and very stable on 18.04 up to 22.04, Now I wont trust ZFS root on Buntu’s, but I do keep testing it .

inxi -F|grep fs
  Host: me-Legion-5-zfs Kernel: 6.14.0-15-generic arch: x86_64 bits: 64
  IF-ID-2: surfshark_ipv6 state: unknown speed: N/A duplex: N/A
  IF-ID-3: surfshark_wg state: unknown speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: N/A
  Device-1: bpool type: zfs status: ONLINE level: linear raw: size: 1.88 GiB
    free: 1.59 GiB zfs-fs: size: 1.75 GiB free: 1.47 GiB
  Device-2: rpool type: zfs status: ONLINE level: linear raw: size: 456 GiB
    free: 419 GiB zfs-fs: size: 441.89 GiB free: 404.57 GiB
  ID-1: / size: 410.16 GiB used: 5.59 GiB (1.4%) fs: zfs
  ID-2: /boot size: 1.66 GiB used: 203.2 MiB (11.9%) fs: zfs
  ID-3: /boot/efi size: 1.05 GiB used: 6.1 MiB (0.6%) fs: vfat
  ID-4: /home size: 429.91 GiB used: 25.34 GiB (5.9%) fs: zfs
  ID-5: /var/log size: 404.68 GiB used: 116 MiB (0.0%) fs: zfs

I would gently suggest you stick to a proven format like ext4 and LVM2 with encryption.
Also this is not needed>>zfs-dkms

apt policy zfs-dkms
zfs-dkms:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 2.3.1-1ubuntu1
  Version table:
     2.3.1-1ubuntu1 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu plucky/universe amd64 Packages

This is used now:

 apt policy zfs-initramfs zfsutils-linux
zfs-initramfs:
  Installed: 2.3.1-1ubuntu1
  Candidate: 2.3.1-1ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 2.3.1-1ubuntu1 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu plucky/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
zfsutils-linux:
  Installed: 2.3.1-1ubuntu1
  Candidate: 2.3.1-1ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 2.3.1-1ubuntu1 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu plucky/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
2 Likes
3

Thanks for answering. I’m using zfs because it has snapshot capability and better reliability than btrfs. This is a clean install made from the ubuntu 25.04 iso and it is not bootable. It should not happen.
I didn’t check what version is installed zfs-utils or zfs-dkms since I cannot boot … I might also be a problem with zfs encryption … I have overwritten the installation with Garuda + Hyprland for now and will wait for a correct install process available.

My main distro is Void with ZFS +encryption+ZFSbootmenu+Hyprland. Void is still at kernel 6.13. Void give a good support for zfs and they rely on zfs-dkms. zfs-utils doesn’t seem to be available yet.

4

I could not agree more, and my other ZFS system’s are Rock Solid. (Not Ubuntu) :frowning:

5

My Ubuntu 22.04 root zfs systems are also solid, but no envelops pushed, I’m still on 5.xx kernel.

Ext4+LVM does have snapshotting. Combine that with a backup tool like rsync or rdiff-backup is nice. We run my wife’s computer with this setup, bookkeeping, taxes, bills… she handles mostly. As the tinkerer in the house, I like to play around w/zfs. Definitely next-level when it comes to snapshotting & replication.

6

Remember This one?

I’m rolling with Ubuntu 22.04 figuring I have until spring 2027 before needing to rebuild. My guess is an upgrade will break things at that time, but 3 more years until then is do’able.

Whereas I just keep rolling to newer. :slight_smile:

I expect point release’s (Development) to be unstable just to be clear…

7

Ahh yes, I guess I’m still living true to that.

I need to get busy work with it on the newer releases. ‘27 will be here soon.

8

I installed in French, chose a UK keyboard:

image

The end result was good.

… The ubuntu 25.04 choice is not in grub menu. …

What was present? (Can you share a photograph?)

Thanks

9 
Script started on 2025-04-25 19:40:28+01:00 [TERM="linux" TTY="/dev/pts/0" COLUMNS="100" LINES="37"]
e[?2004hroot@mowa219-gjp4-ubuntu-fr:~# apt-cache policy zfs-utils
e[?2004l
N: Impossible de trouver le paquet zfs-utils
e[?2004hroot@mowa219-gjp4-ubuntu-fr:~# apt-cache policy zfs-dkms
e[?2004l
zfs-dkms:
  Installé : (aucun)
  Candidat : 2.3.1-1ubuntu1
 Table de version :
     2.3.1-1ubuntu1 500
        500 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu plucky/universe amd64 Packages
e[?2004hroot@mowa219-gjp4-ubuntu-fr:~# zfs version
e[?2004l
zfs-2.3.1-1ubuntu1
zfs-kmod-2.3.1-1ubuntu1
e[?2004hroot@mowa219-gjp4-ubuntu-fr:~# lsb_release -a
e[?2004l
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID:	Ubuntu
Description:	Ubuntu 25.04
Release:	25.04
Codename:	plucky
e[?2004hroot@mowa219-gjp4-ubuntu-fr:~# exit
e[?2004l
exit

Script done on 2025-04-25 19:43:51+01:00 [COMMAND_EXIT_CODE="0"]
10

Sorry, I wipe out the disk for other use. But the only thing in the uefi menu was boot to uefi settings, no OS at all. It wasn’t detecting any OS installed.

11

and the 2.3.1 zfs is valid for any kernel < 2.13.999 … the calamares install should refuse to install.

12

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