zpool fails to create pool in file "no such device in /dev"

[mystica555]

System information

cat /etc/lsb-release
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=23.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=lunar
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 23.04"

zfs-2.1.9-2ubuntu1.1
zfs-kmod-2.1.9-2ubuntu1.1

Linux 6.2.0-27-generic #28-Ubuntu SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Wed Jul 12 22:39:51 UTC 2023 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Describe the problem you're observing

zpool create does not work on files; it used to. this is now a bug.

Describe how to reproduce the problem

zpool create poolname ./path-to-file-where-you-want-the-filesystem-created-as-a-loopback

zpool create mikehomedir ./diskimage-mikehomedir-zfs 
cannot open './diskimage-mikehomedir-zfs': no such device in /dev
must be a full path or shorthand device name

[ixhamza]

If diskimage-mikehomedir-zfs does not exist under /dev/ directory, it should be a full path name.

[mystica555]

So instead of putting ./filename while within the current directory of filename, I should put instead /mnt/usb-exfat/filename ? I already worked around this issue by using losetup but remember it working with ./filename from the current directory of filename.

[ixhamza]

So instead of putting ./filename while within the current directory of
filename, I should put instead /mnt/usb-exfat/filename

Yes, the absolute path should work fine.