📖 ~1 min read
Table of contents
Symptom & Impact
Expected dataset path is empty after reboot and services fail.
Environment & Reproduction
Happens when fstab and ZFS mountpoint ownership overlap.
Root Cause Analysis
Legacy mount configuration conflicts with ZFS automatic mount logic.
Quick Triage
Inspect canmount and mountpoint properties across affected datasets.
Step-by-Step Diagnosis
Trace boot order and identify which component claims the path.
Solution – Primary Fix
Remove conflicting fstab entries and set canonical ZFS properties.
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Solution – Alternative Approaches
Use canmount=noauto for staged mounts controlled by service hooks.
Verification & Acceptance Criteria
Dataset mounts correctly after reboot and dependent apps start.
Rollback Plan
Restore prior fstab and inherited mountpoint settings.
Prevention & Hardening
Keep ZFS-backed mount paths out of static fstab configuration.
Related Errors & Cross-Refs
Related to delegated mounts in jail and container workflows.
Related tutorial: View the step-by-step tutorial for FreeBSD 12.
View all FreeBSD 12 tutorials on the Tutorials Hub →
Browse all common problems & solutions on the Tutorials Hub.
References & Further Reading
zfsprops documentation and FreeBSD boot sequence references.
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