The best cache option in Proxmox depends on your storage type, performance needs, and data safety requirements.
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For local SSDs or fast storage with a BBU-backed RAID controller: Use
cache=writebackfor best performance, especially for write-heavy workloads. It offers high IOPS but carries a risk of data loss during power failure. Ensure you have a UPS and proper backup. -
For SANs, NFS, or remote storage (e.g., Synology, Ceph): Use
cache=noneorcache=writethrough. Most SANs already have internal write-back caching, so enablingwritebackat the Proxmox level provides little benefit and may increase risk.cache=nonebypasses the host page cache, reducing overhead and improving consistency with remote storage. -
For ZFS storage:
cache=noneis often recommended, as ZFS already manages its own ARC (cache). Enabling additional caching can cause performance degradation due to double buffering.