An in-depth look at how caching works in ZFS, specifically the Adaptive Replacement Cache (ARC) algorithm. Assumes no prior knowledge of ZFS or operating system internals. ZFS does not use the standard buffer cache provided by the operating system, but instead uses the more advanced "Adaptive Replacement Cache" (ARC). What is a cache How most caches work (LRU) Pros Cons What makes the ARC different? Recently Used Frequently Used Ghost Lists What makes the ARC Adaptive? Access Patterns (How the ARC adjusts over time) Compressed ARC Advantages over compressed memory or swapcache Tuning for... File Server iSCSI Target Database Hypervisor