btrfs-balance:tldr:2da87

This command is used to initiate a balancing operation on a btrfs filesystem.

Here's a breakdown of the command:

• sudo: It is a command in Unix-like operating systems that allows a user with administrative privileges (superuser) to execute a command as another user, typically the root user.
• btrfs balance start: This is the command to start a balancing operation on a btrfs filesystem. The balance command is used to redistribute data across the devices in the filesystem, ensuring an even distribution of data and improving performance.
• ${path-to-btrfs_filesystem}: This is a placeholder for the actual path to the btrfs filesystem that needs to be balanced. You need to replace ${path-to-btrfs_filesystem} with the real path (e.g., /dev/sda1 or /mnt/btrfs) when executing the command. This path specifies the location of the btrfs filesystem that requires balancing.

When the command is executed, with appropriate privileges, it initiates the balancing operation on the specified btrfs filesystem. The balance operation can take some time depending on the size of the filesystem and the amount of data it contains.