Persistent Kubernetes Storage
from Lightbits
Cloud Native Storage for Kubernetes
Lightbits offers persistent Kubernetes storage via the Container Storage Interface (CSI) that extends the efficiency of containers to NVMe® flash while maintaining high application performance and portability. Because Lightbits maximizes the utility of NVMe flash it offers the best value for performance, scalability, and lower TCO. Unlike other block storage solutions, Kubernetes management is easier with one Lightbits cluster supporting hundreds of Kubernetes clusters.
Accelerate Stateful Apps with Simplified Kubernetes Storage
Most of the popular stateful applications [MongoDB, MySQL, Cassandra, Apache Kafka, Spark, etc.] benefit from local NVMe storage for low latency and high performance when deployed on bare metal. While utilizing local NVMe with Kubernetes Local Persistent Volume functionality meets the storage requirements for these applications, it breaks the benefits of Kubernetes container/application portability. And while many block storage solutions offer persistent volumes, they compromise application performance. Only Lightbits software-defined storage delivers the performance of Local Persistent Volumes while retaining pod autonomy and freedom from server physicality offering the high performance and low latency benefits of local NVMe SSDs, without compromising container portability.
Persistent Kubernetes Storage Without Compromise
Provision Kubernetes storage as fast and dynamic as the containers it serves
Faster container migration between nodes for easier Kubernetes management
Provides high IOPs, low latency performance equivalent to local flash
Increases efficiency, flash endurance and scaling storage independently from compute
More uptime, increased SLAs–applications do not see drive failures and are able to migrate without full drive rebuilds
Software-Defined Storage for Kubernetes
Lack of Built-in Persistence
Containers are designed to be lightweight, portable, and stateless, which means that they typically do not have built-in mechanisms for persistent data storage. As a result, any data stored within a container is ephemeral and is lost when the container is shut down or restarted. This lack of built-in persistence can pose challenges for applications that require long-term data storage or stateful operations, such as databases. Without persistent storage, organizations may struggle to maintain data integrity, continuity of operations, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Data Management Issues in Container Clusters
Applications are often deployed as microservices across multiple containers or pods within a cluster which can lead to data fragmentation, duplication, and inconsistency. Managing data across container clusters becomes increasingly complex as the number of containers and services grows, making it difficult to track data dependencies, ensure data consistency, and implement data governance policies. Architecting Kubernetes storage as a cluster with a unified management interface can help eliminate operational inefficiencies.
Performance Considerations
Containers are known for their efficiency and scalability, but they can also introduce performance overhead, especially when it comes to storage operations. Implement the wrong storage and your Kubernetes environment may experience latency, bottlenecks, and resource contention, leading to poor application performance and user experience. Storage performance considerations become even more critical in containerized environments with high-throughput or latency-sensitive workloads, such as real-time analytics or transaction processing. Persistent storage for Kubernetes from Lightbits delivers consistent high-performance, so that you can scale your applications effectively and meet your SLAs.
Persistent storage is essential for unlocking the full potential of Kubernetes, enabling organizations to run a wide range of workloads, including stateful applications, with confidence and efficiency. Many applications require persistent data storage to maintain their state across multiple instances, updates, failures, or restarts. Examples include databases, whereby persistent storage enables these stateful applications to be managed within container orchestration platforms like Kubernetes, allowing organizations to modernize their infrastructure without sacrificing functionality.
What is the Difference Between Persistent and Non-Persistent Storage?
Persistent storage retains data beyond the lifespan of the container itself ensuring that important information is not lost and can be accessed by applications as needed. While non-persistent storage loses data when the associated process or instance is shut down or terminated.
What is the Function of Persistent Storage?
Persistent storage for Kubernetes is essential for running stateful applications and enabling data persistence in containerized environments, allowing Kubernetes to support a broader range of workloads, including those with stringent data storage requirements.
Cloud Data Platform for Kubernetes
Learn more about how to leverage software-defined storage to get the portability of Kubernetes with the performance of local flash.
