If you want the metadata directory moved from the default location:
Create a systemd override.conf file (preferred and fully supported method)
mount --bind method (for init-based systems)
Regarding the failing issue, Symlinks / remote mounts without posix locking are the two reasons it fails unless out of space. I’ve never been able to make it fail when mounted / defined correctly. It seems only by ‘cheating’ , does it get in trouble.
