btrfs-balance:tldr:9c8dc

btrfs-balance: Convert data blocks to raid1, skipping already converted chunks (e.g. after a previous cancelled conversion operation).

btrfs

$ sudo btrfs balance start -dconvert=${raid1},soft ${path-to-btrfs_filesystem}

try on your machine

This command is used to initiate a manual balance operation on a btrfs filesystem using the btrfs balance command.

Here's a breakdown of the different components of the command:

sudo: It is a command used in Unix-like operating systems to run a command with administrative privileges. By using sudo, the subsequent command will be executed with root privileges.
btrfs: This is the command-line utility for managing btrfs filesystems on Linux.
balance: It is a subcommand of btrfs used to rebalance data across devices within a btrfs filesystem.
start: This option tells the btrfs balance command to start a balance operation.
-dconvert=${raid1}: This option configures the balancing operation to convert data between different profiles, in this case from the specified raid1 profile. RAID1 is a redundancy level that duplicates data across two or more devices.
soft: This option specifies a soft conversion, which means it will convert the data in the background without blocking further filesystem operations.
${path-to-btrfs_filesystem}: This is the path to the btrfs filesystem on which the balance operation will be performed. You need to replace this with the actual path on your system.

In summary, running this command with appropriate values will initiate a background balance operation on a btrfs filesystem, converting data from the specified RAID1 profile.

This explanation was created by an AI. In most cases those are correct. But please always be careful and never run a command you are not sure if it is safe.

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