Container-Native or Container-Ready Storage?
Containers help dynamically develop, deploy, manage and test apps in various environments, from a developer’s laptop to the cloud or an on-site data center.
These revolutionary inventions are now mainstream and have proven reliable for allowing developers to design cloud apps fast and at scale.
If you specialize in IT, you’ll almost certainly come across either container-native (CNS) or container-ready storage (CRS). But what are the differences? Which one is right for you and your organization? And how do you choose?
Here, we’ll compare the two container data services layers side-by-side to clear up the confusion on the best storage solution for your company’s needs.
CNS and CRS Similarities
- Persistent Volumes
Containers are naturally ephemeral; hence, if a container is deleted or corrupted by a virus, all resident application or local disk data is permanently lost.
Therefore, a CS solution features a persistent storage feature that helps maintain the functionality and data of the application.
- Connected to Kubernetes
APIs link CNS to Kubernetes, enabling it to simplify management and support dynamic provisioning.
CNS also supports Kubernetes’ persistent volumes, persistent volume claims, and storage classes. CRS is connected to Kubernetes through shims.
- Data Safety
The security of data is often a concern for production applications.
Some CNS products come with in-built data safety protection features like snapshots. Others are contingent on the traditional backup software.
Container-Native Storage
It’s also called cloud-native storage and is application-centric with self-service options for app owners or developers.
CNS is a type of software-defined storage (SDS) that operates within a container cluster and forms a storage pool from the disks on each host.
Consequently, as data moves between data centers and cloud providers, CNS can perform anywhere; on-premises or in public clouds.
In simple terms, it’s a storage solution that, like any other service attached to the app’s ecosystem, can be offered as-code. It stays within the app throughout development and launch with no hardware requirements.
CNS works by combining storage, server and virtualization in one platform.
- Portability
When working in containers, storage units can be readily transferred across data center settings or across all environments.
- Isolation
Containers run apps with everything the workload requires because they lack dependencies. This also applies to storage volumes.
- Admins use Kubernetes tools and workflows.
Container-Ready Storage
The container-ready storage solution uses existing conventional storage—usually external arrays—which connects to the Kubernetes environment via software shims.
It promises the flexibility to repurpose existing storage investments and may make sense as a first step into the container environment.
Container-ready storage can be useful for organizations trying out containerization on a smaller scale or as a supplement to typical monolithic IT infrastructures.
What Are the Differences?
There are critical differences between CNS and CRS, however.
CNS is Easier to Manage and Flexible
The advantage of container-native storage is that it is designed specifically for the Kubernetes system. CNS is a Kubernetes-based software-defined storage solution that runs on any cloud.
It’s a container orchestration platform.
With Kubernetes as the orchestration layer, everything in CNS runs smoothly. CNS is designed to be quickly orchestrated, but CRS is more difficult to manage, which limits the full benefits of Kubernetes.
Access to Data in Real-Time
CNS typically offers a new approach to data access. Kubernetes-native storage provides a single data services layer for increased speed and flexible primary storage in real-time.
This layer enables instant access to data anywhere and at any time—the concept of data being here or there, current or historical, vanishes entirely.
Traditional CRS approaches segregate primary and secondary data, which is significant. However, the most critical type of data is real-time data.
CNS Upends Traditional Storage
CNS attaches to an application and follows it through its development and deployment life cycles and its transition from on-premises to public clouds and back.
This is not possible with traditional storage using CSI drivers.
Additionally, attaching traditional storage to Kubernetes is like throwing an anchor overboard. Container-attached/ready systems require separate storage and data management, which cannot expand, adapt or respond at the pace demanded by Kubernetes.
Protected data (backups or snapshots), as in CRS, are copies of data as it was at a particular moment in time. In the Kubernetes world, this entire notion is turned upside down.
Costs
Not long ago, businesses had to pay millions to attain the storage agility now offered by CNS.
CNS options are now very budget-friendly and they enable IT companies and developers to implement, duplicate and test apps in the Kubernetes environment.
Ready for CNS or CRS?
CNS and CRS may sound alike but, in terms of management, they are radically different. It can be tricky to determine the best fit storage option for your company, but you can quickly settle on the best option by analyzing your priorities or terms.
