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Optane/3D XPoint remains the technical king of SLOG devices according to OpenZFS documentation. Intel’s DC P4800X, P4801X and P1600X are specifically identified as strong performers because of their very low latency and high write endurance. However, Intel wound down Optane in 2022, and those drives are no longer manufactured. For a new pool, the practical choice is an enterprise NAND SSD with verified power-loss protection (PLP), matched to your synchronous-write workload and platform.

First, establish whether you need a SLOG

The ZFS Intent Log (ZIL) already exists on every pool. It records synchronous writes so ZFS can acknowledge them only after the required data is safely represented on stable storage. A separate SLOG (separate intent log) moves that logging work away from the pool’s main devices.

A SLOG is not a general-purpose write cache. As OpenZFS states, “A SLOG is not a write cache.” Asynchronous writes do not use it, so a workload with no synchronous writes gains nothing from adding one.

Workloads that can benefit

  • NFS exports that issue synchronous writes
  • Databases configured for durable transaction commits
  • Virtual-machine storage where guest flushes or synchronous writes are common
  • Other applications whose correctness depends on stable-storage acknowledgements

Workloads that usually will not

  • File copies and applications issuing only asynchronous writes
  • Pools whose measured workload contains no synchronous operations
  • Systems where the SLOG is slower than, or no more capable than, the devices it replaces for logging

Do not treat sync=disabled as a routine tuning fix. OpenZFS documents that setting as skipping the ZIL while sacrificing the durability of recent writes if the system loses power or crashes.

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Why Optane is the performance leader

OpenZFS describes Optane/3D XPoint SSDs as having substantially lower latency and higher write endurance than NAND flash SSDs, characteristics that directly suit synchronous logging. Its documentation names these Intel models as known to perform well:

Model Status How to treat it today
Intel DC P4800X Optane enterprise SSD; no longer manufactured Legacy or used-market candidate; verify condition, firmware and warranty
Intel DC P4801X Optane enterprise SSD; no longer manufactured Legacy or used-market candidate; verify condition, firmware and warranty
Intel DC P1600X Optane enterprise SSD; no longer manufactured Legacy or used-market candidate; do not assume current stock or support

This is a technical preference, not a current retail ranking. There is no documented 2026 market-wide benchmark proving one currently sold drive is a universal winner, and Optane availability, price, authenticity and warranty vary by seller.

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The best practical choice for a new build

For new hardware, start with an enterprise NAND SSD that has documented hardware power-loss protection. OpenZFS gives a non-exhaustive set of examples, including Micron 7300, 7400 and 7450 PRO/MAX; Kingston DC1000B; Samsung PM963 and PM1725 series; and Intel DC P3500, P3600 and P3700 series. These are examples rather than a current compatibility list: check the exact SKU and its manufacturer specifications before buying.

What PLP must protect

OpenZFS’s documented guarantee requires the device to preserve data reported as flushed and to protect its own metadata during power loss. Protection of data that was never flushed is not required for that guarantee. Hardware PLP is the stronger choice when you also want protection against firmware bugs; vendor claims based only on firmware should be evaluated cautiously.

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How to compare SLOG devices

Criterion What to verify Why it matters
Workload Actual synchronous-write behavior of the datasets, clients and applications A SLOG cannot accelerate writes that never use the ZIL
Latency Stable low write latency under sustained synchronous I/O Commit latency is often more important than headline sequential speed
Sustained throughput Logging throughput greater than the workload’s planned synchronous-write rate An undersized or slow device becomes the bottleneck
Endurance Write rating and expected daily log volume over the service life SLOGs can receive continuous write traffic
Power-loss protection Manufacturer documentation for the exact model and firmware Unprotected acknowledged writes undermine the purpose of synchronous logging
Capacity and spare area Usable log space plus over-provisioning appropriate to the workload More capacity is not automatically more performance
Platform fit Interface, form factor, PCIe generation, cooling and firmware support Thermal throttling or incompatibility can erase the device’s advantage
Failure policy Whether to mirror the log vdev and how replacement will be handled A failed log device can reduce performance and increase risk during recovery

How much SLOG capacity is appropriate?

There is no universal size. OpenZFS says SLOG devices rarely have more than about 4 GB in use at a time and suggests that roughly 4 GB is sufficient in many NAND configurations. It also notes that the required space depends on writes between transaction-group commits and ARC limits, and that useful SLOG size should not exceed the maximum ARC size.

TrueNAS provides different project guidance: a 16 GB over-provisioned SLOG device for typical HDD-pool performance characteristics. That figure is a platform-oriented recommendation, not a contradiction of OpenZFS’s workload-dependent guidance and not a universal minimum.

Practical sizing approach

  1. Measure or estimate the maximum burst of synchronous writes between transaction-group commits.
  2. Confirm the host’s ARC limit and keep useful SLOG capacity within that boundary.
  3. Choose a device with spare area for endurance and steady latency rather than buying capacity that the log will never use.
  4. For a typical HDD pool, evaluate TrueNAS’s 16 GB over-provisioned recommendation in the context of your appliance and workload.

Should the log vdev be mirrored?

TrueNAS recommends that a log vdev may be mirrored to reduce the impact of a device failure. OpenZFS supports multiple log devices and mirrored log configurations; RAIDZ is not supported for the intent log. Mirroring adds hardware cost, but it avoids making one small device a single point of failure for logging performance and recovery behavior.

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Thermals and installation details

Check the complete platform, not only the drive’s specification sheet. NVMe devices can throttle severely or develop reliability problems without adequate airflow. Verify the connector and form factor, motherboard or HBA support, PCIe compatibility, firmware requirements and cooling before deployment. A used Optane drive also requires careful checks of wear indicators, firmware and provenance.

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A decision framework

Choose a legacy Optane device when

  • You can obtain a genuine P4800X, P4801X or P1600X from a trustworthy source.
  • Its remaining endurance, firmware and warranty status are acceptable.
  • Your platform supports the drive and provides adequate cooling.
  • You understand that supply and long-term support are uncertain because production ended.

Choose enterprise NAND when

  • You are building a new system and need predictable sourcing and support.
  • The exact SKU has documented PLP and endurance suitable for your write rate.
  • Your workload benefits from low synchronous-write latency but does not justify legacy-hardware risk.

Buy neither yet when

  • You have not established that the workload issues synchronous writes.
  • You cannot verify PLP, endurance or compatibility for the exact drive.
  • Your pool, network or application is the measured bottleneck rather than ZIL latency.

Bottom line on the “current king”

On pure SLOG characteristics, Optane is still the benchmark to beat: OpenZFS explicitly rates it above NAND for latency and write endurance. In 2026, though, it is a discontinued legacy option rather than a dependable new-product category. For most new builds, the sound answer is a correctly sized enterprise NAND SSD with verified PLP, enough endurance and sustained synchronous-write performance for the measured workload, installed with appropriate cooling and mirrored when the failure policy warrants it.

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