Chapter 2. Architecture of OpenShift Container Storage

Red Hat OpenShift Container Storage uses Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform as a base. For information about the architecture and lifecycle of OpenShift Container Platform, see OpenShift Container Platform architecture.

Red Hat OpenShift Container Storage architecture

Red Hat OpenShift Container Storage architecture

Red Hat OpenShift Container Storage comprises of 3 main operators, which codify administrative tasks and custom resources so that task and resource characteristics can be more easily automated. Administrators define the desired end state of the cluster, and various operators work to ensure the cluster is either in that state, or approaching that state, with minimal administrator intervention.

The OpenShift Container Storage (OCS) operator
A meta-operator that codifies and enforces the recommendations and requirements of a supported Red Hat OpenShift Container Storage deployment by drawing on other operators in specific, tested ways. This operator provides the storage cluster resource that wraps resources provided by the Rook-Ceph and NooBaa operators.
The Rook-Ceph operator
This operator automates the packaging, deployment, management, upgrading, and scaling of persistent storage provided to container applications, and infrastructure services provided to OpenShift Container Platform. It provides the Ceph cluster resource, which manages the pods that host services such as the Object Storage Daemons, monitors, and the metadata server for the Ceph file system.
The NooBaa operator
This operator provides the Multicloud Object Gateway, an S3 compatible object store service that allows resource access across multiple cloud environments.

2.1. Supported workload types

Red Hat OpenShift Container Storage provides storage appropriate for a number of workload types.

Block storage is suitable for databases and other low-latency transactional workloads. Some examples of supported workloads are Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform logging and monitoring, and PostgreSQL.

Object storage is for video and audio files, compressed data archives, and the data used to train artificial intelligence or machine learning programs. In addition, object storage can be used for any application developed with a cloud-first approach.

File storage is for continuous integration and delivery, web application file storage, and artificial intelligence or machine learning data aggregation. Supported workloads include Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform registry and messaging using JBoss AMQ.