ZFS Director is a ZFS management plugin for Unraid, a successor of ZFS Master. It brings dataset management, snapshot browsing, individual file restores, snapshot policies and replication into one interface. I use it on my own server every day.

Install (always the latest release)

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/d1-m4ss/zfs-director/main/plugin/zfs-director.plg

Latest release and checksums: https://github.com/d1-m4ss/zfs-director/releases/latest
Source and issue tracker: https://github.com/d1-m4ss/zfs-director

Status: the plugin passed the Community Applications review, but it does not show up in Apps yet (I opened a ticket with the Unraid team), so for now it is URL-install only. I would welcome feedback from other Unraid users. It is developed and used on Unraid 7.3.x with OpenZFS 2.4.x.

What it does

• Dataset and snapshot management: browse pools and datasets, inspect properties and space usage, create snapshots and review destructive operations before confirming them. The workspace has a fixed height: the dataset tree and the detail pane scroll separately, so there is no page-long scrolling.

• Safer deletion: before a dataset or folder is destroyed you get one verdict: what blocks it (SMB/NFS shares, Docker, VMs, running processes, pending jobs), the exact fix, and a button to stop the processes that hold it.

• Snapshot File Manager: open a restore point, browse folders, select files, prepare a ZIP or restore selected items through a separate review step.

• Sanoid policies: choose when snapshots are created, how long to retain them and whether eligible old snapshots should be removed.

• Syncoid replication: set up local or SSH replication through Source → Destination → Schedule → Review. Pick the destination from a list of local datasets (or type a new name), see a short "inspect before running" summary of what will be sent, and follow the run in the same window; verified results are recorded in Jobs. It warns when a destination dataset already exists without snapshots, because syncoid cannot receive into it.

• Jobs: requested operations, progress, errors, warnings, stage history and available recovery controls in one place.

• Interface: Workspace and Compact views, Black / Gray / White / Azure themes, automatic Unraid theme inheritance, one dialog style everywhere.

Directory-to-dataset conversion, quotas, ACLs and encryption controls are also included where supported by the backend. Destructive actions are OFF by default and have to be enabled in Settings.

Screenshots

All screenshots use fictional demo data. They do not show a production server.

Overview

Dataset workspace

Snapshot File Manager

Sanoid snapshot policy

Syncoid replication wizard

Jobs

Sanoid / Syncoid integration

This is optional and requires a compatible Sanoid / Syncoid installation (for example the Sanoid plugin for Unraid 6/7); those tools are not bundled with Director. Integration starts OFF on a fresh configuration.

Existing configurations and scripts are displayed as External. Director-owned definitions are Managed. Existing schedules are not silently rewritten or adopted. Managed snapshot removal checks ownership and protected references; a Sanoid-looking name alone does not make a snapshot eligible for removal.

Installation

1. Open Plugins → Install Plugin in Unraid.

2. Paste this URL and click Install:

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/d1-m4ss/zfs-director/main/plugin/zfs-director.plg

3. Open Main → ZFS Director.

The installer downloads and verifies the package, creates its storage and starts the background services. No terminal commands, manual folder creation or separate activation step are needed. Installing replaces ZFS Master; settings and recovery data are kept.

Updates: use Plugins → Check for Updates. If you installed the old RC1 link, install once from the URL above (Force Install); after that updates arrive normally.

Status of testing

Automated checks of the current build: 603 regression/unit tests, 83 Chromium workflow checks and 29 integration checks, all passing. Installation, upgrade and normal reboot were evaluated earlier in an isolated Unraid VM; snapshot, restore, ZIP, conversion and deletion operations were checked on disposable datasets with verified hashes. Broader hardware coverage, power-loss recovery and reboot with pending recovery still need further testing.

Please start with a disposable dataset and keep an independent backup. Snapshots are not a replacement for one.

Feedback

I would especially appreciate feedback on snapshot browsing and file restores, policy scheduling and retention, replication setup, and the clarity of Jobs / recovery messages. For bug reports, include your Unraid/OpenZFS versions, the action you tried and the error text, with private details removed.

Source and issue tracker: https://github.com/d1-m4ss/zfs-director

GPL-2.0-or-later. Based on ZFS Master by Carlos Rodriguez (IkerSaint); upstream attribution is retained in the repository.

Edited Tuesday at 06:05 PM2 days by d3m3zs
update

Update: stable build 2026.11.09.9

The first post has been updated. Please use this install/update URL instead of the old RC1 link (it always follows the latest release, so Check for Updates works):

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/d1-m4ss/zfs-director/main/plugin/zfs-director.plg

The plugin passed the Community Applications review but does not show up in Apps yet (ticket is open), so URL install it is for now. If you installed RC1 earlier, reinstall once from the URL above (Force Install); after that Check for Updates works.

New since RC1

• Fixed-height layout: the dataset tree and the detail pane scroll separately instead of one page-long scroll; Dataset information is grouped into General / Space / Encryption / Other.

• Deleting a dataset or folder shows one verdict: what blocks it (SMB/NFS, Docker, VMs, running processes, pending jobs), the exact fix, and a button to stop the processes holding it.

• Replication: choose the destination from a list, a short "inspect before running" summary instead of raw JSON, run progress in the same window, and a warning when the destination exists but has no snapshots (syncoid cannot receive into it).

• Snapshot Policies / Replication tables: a clearer Status column (last result, schedule on/paused, owner) and no overlapping columns.

• All dialogs share one style and scroll on their own while the page behind stays put.

• Saving settings no longer waits for a long-running job; folder deletion and file restore are much faster; background processes are now named "zfs-director …" in ps.

• Clearer messages when an update is refused because jobs are still queued or running.

Screenshots use fictional demo data.

Dataset workspace with a fixed height

Deletion review: one verdict

Snapshot policies with the new Status column

Replication jobs

Still: start with a disposable dataset and keep a separate backup. Bug reports to GitHub issues or here (Unraid/OpenZFS versions, what you did, the error text, private details removed): https://github.com/d1-m4ss/zfs-director