ZFS & PCIe Lanes: Impact of Mixing Fast & Slow NVMe Drives

Ever wondered what happens when you mix fast and slow NVMe drives on uneven PCIe lanes with ZFS? We debunk the myth that the faster drive will "carry" the slower one, explaining how ZFS actually distributes writes evenly and how reads are affected. Learn about the critical differences between ZFS mirrors and stripes with mismatched hardware, practical takeaways, and potential hardware workarounds like using a fast SSD for L2ARC or SLOG. Discover why ZFS prioritizes predictability and fairness over raw speed hacks, even if it means your fast drive won't always stretch its legs.