As a new engineer, understanding the concept of cloud-native storage is important for several reasons.
First, it is a key component of cloud native application development. It is the practice of using storage solutions that are native to the cloud and designed to work seamlessly with cloud-native applications. By understanding how cloud-native storage works, you will be able to build, deploy, and manage cloud-native applications more effectively.
Second, it allows for better scalability and cost efficiency. By using storage solutions that are native to the cloud, resources can be automatically allocated and scaled up or down as needed, without incurring additional costs.
Third, it promotes better collaboration and DevOps culture. By using storage solutions that are native to the cloud, it becomes easier for different teams and developers to work together on the same application.
Fourth, it allows for better data availability. By using storage solutions that are native to the cloud, data is stored in multiple locations and can be accessed from any location.
In summary, understanding the concept of cloud-native storage is important because it is a key component of cloud native application development, allows for better scalability and cost efficiency, promotes better collaboration and DevOps culture, and allows for better data availability. It is a powerful tool for building and deploying applications in a cloud environment and is essential for any engineer working in the field today.
Learning Materials
Here’s a list to get you started learning about cloud-native storage. Note that some of these links may not be free and may require a subscription or payment. I receive no affiliate payments for these links.
Beginner:
- “Introduction to Cloud-Native Storage” by cncf.io: https://www.cncf.io/online-programs/introduction-to-cloud-native-storage/
Intermediate:
- “Object Storage for Cloud-Native Applications” by AWS: https://aws.amazon.com/products/storage/object-storage-for-cloud-native-applications/
- “Introduction to Azure Storage” by Microsoft: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-introduction
- “Google Object Storage” by Google: https://cloud.google.com/storage/
Advanced:
- “Kubernetes Storage” by Kubernetes: https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/storage/
Videos to Watch
CNCF Webinar – Introduction to Cloud Native Storage
This webinar provides an overview of the evolving cloud native storage requirements and data architecture, discussing the need for layered services that can be seamlessly bound for the user experience. It explores the extensible, open-source approach of abstractions and plugins that give users the choice to select the storage technologies that fit their needs. It also looks at the importance of persistent volumes for containers, allowing for the flexibility and performance needed for stateful workloads.
A Possible Learning Path
Hands-on experience: Start by setting up a simple Kubernetes cluster and experimenting with different cloud-native storage options such as Kubernetes Persistent Volumes (PVs), Persistent Volume Claims (PVCs), and StatefulSets. This can be done by following tutorials and guides, and deploying these options on a cloud platform like AWS, Azure, or GCP.
Theoretical learning: Once you have a basic understanding of cloud-native storage, you can begin to explore the underlying concepts and technologies such as Kubernetes storage classes, storage provisioners, and storage backends. This can be done through online resources such as tutorials, courses, and documentation provided by Kubernetes and storage providers, as well as books and blogs on the topic.
Understanding the principles and best practices: Cloud-native storage is an important aspect of a microservices architecture, so it’s important to understand the key principles and best practices, such as data replication, data durability, and data accessibility.
Joining a community: Connect with other people who are learning and working with cloud-native storage for Kubernetes by joining online forums, meetups, and social media groups.
Practice, practice, practice: The best way to learn is by doing. The more you practice deploying and using cloud-native storage options in a Kubernetes cluster, the more comfortable and proficient you will become with the technology.
A Note from the Architect
Hey there! I’m glad you’re interested in learning more about cloud native storage. It’s a pretty important concept to understand, especially if you’re working with Kubernetes.
So, what is cloud native storage? Essentially, it’s a type of storage that is built specifically for use in cloud environments. This means that it’s designed to work seamlessly with cloud technologies like Kubernetes, and can handle the unique challenges that come with a cloud environment, like scalability and high availability.
Why is it necessary for certain solutions built on Kubernetes? Well, Kubernetes is a powerful tool for managing containerized applications, but it doesn’t come with its own storage solution. So, if you’re building a solution on Kubernetes, you’ll need to use a separate storage solution that’s compatible with it. That’s where cloud native storage comes in – it’s designed to work with Kubernetes, so it’s the perfect match.
Now, let’s talk about how it works. Essentially, cloud native storage solutions provide a way to store and access data that’s running on Kubernetes. They do this by creating a “volume” that can be mounted to a Kubernetes pod, which allows the pod to access the data stored in the volume. This way, you can store data in a persistent way, even if the pod is deleted or recreated.
Here are a couple of popular Kubernetes cloud native storage options and the types of solutions they’re used for:
- Rook: Rook is an open-source storage solution for Kubernetes. It’s great for use cases where you need to store data in a distributed way, like a big data analytics solution or a large-scale data storage system.
- GlusterFS: GlusterFS is another open-source storage solution for Kubernetes. It’s great for use cases where you need to store data in a highly available way, like a web application or a database.
Both of these options are great choices for different types of solutions, and they’re both built specifically to work with Kubernetes.
So, that’s the basics of cloud native storage. It’s a powerful tool that can help you build robust and scalable solutions on Kubernetes. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask on LinkedIn!
