Simplifying VM Storage and Management With OpenShift and KubeVirt
OpenShift virtualization brings a fresh approach to running virtual machines (VMs) in Kubernetes, thanks to the KubeVirt project. Instead of keeping VMs and containers separate, OpenShift lets you run them side by side in one place, getting the best of both worlds. If you have ever struggled with managing different platforms for your VMs and containers, you will appreciate how OpenShift brings it all together. Let’s dive into how VM storage works in OpenShift and see how KubeVirt makes it surprisingly straightforward to set up and manage storage for your virtual machines — from initial setup to everyday tasks.
Leveraging KubeVirt for Seamless VM Storage Management
OpenShift virtualization is powered by KubeVirt, an innovative controller that bridges VMs with Kubernetes through custom resource definitions (CRDs). KubeVirt introduces virtual machine instances (VMIs) as native Kubernetes objects, enabling them to coexist and operate alongside traditional pods and other Kubernetes resources in a unified environment.
The technical foundation of KubeVirt relies on the libvirt API to communicate with KVM and other hypervisors that run the VMs. Each VM instance runs inside a specialized container pod that functions as a hypervisor, using Kubernetes-allocated resources. This design creates a seamless platform where both containers and VMs can be managed together.
Storage management for VMs becomes remarkably straightforward with KubeVirt. By tapping into Kubernetes’ built-in storage features like persistent volumes (PVs) and persistent volume claims (PVCs), VMs can access the same storage capabilities as containers. This includes on-demand provisioning, workload mobility and enhanced functionality such as snapshots and cloning.
The storage workflow begins when a VMI requests storage through a PVC. This triggers Kubernetes to automatically provision a PV based on the specified storage class. KubeVirt then connects this storage to the VMI’s pod, making it available to the VM as a virtual disk. This automated process eliminates manual storage configuration, significantly simplifying VM management.
KubeVirt also enables sophisticated storage features through its provider integrations. Users can create instant VM snapshots for backup purposes, rapidly deploy new VMs using clones, and optimize storage usage through thin provisioning — which only consumes actual used space rather than the total allocated capacity.
By using KubeVirt’s storage integration capabilities, OpenShift virtualization allows users to manage VM storage with the same ease and flexibility as containerized workloads. This unified approach simplifies operations, enhances efficiency and enables seamless integration of VMs into the broader Kubernetes ecosystem.
Simplifying Day 2 Operations on Virtual Machine Storage
Managing storage for VMs in traditional environments is often an annoyance. Even basic tasks like adding storage or expanding existing volumes typically require careful coordination between different IT teams, with storage admins manually configuring array volumes while system admins handle the hypervisor side.
OpenShift virtualization changes this game entirely. By leveraging KubeVirt, it treats VM storage just like any other OpenShift resource. Instead of juggling different tools and interfaces, admins can manage everything through familiar concepts like PVs and PVCs, making the whole process much more straightforward.
Adding and Removing Disks on the Fly
One of the greatest features in OpenShift virtualization is that you can add or remove disks without shutting down your VMs. This is possible thanks to KubeVirt’s API, which lets you adjust storage on the fly — something that is incredibly valuable in production environments.
When you need to add storage to a VM, you simply create a PVC with your requirements — storage class, access mode and size. Since OpenShift virtualization plays nice with various storage types and protocols, you have got plenty of options to choose from. Once you have got your PVC, just attach it to your running VM either through the command line or the OpenShift web interface.
Need to remove a disk? No problem. Just detach the PVC from your VM, and the disk will disconnect cleanly without disrupting the VM’s operations. This kind of flexibility means you can quickly adapt to changing storage needs without the usual hassle.
Expanding Disks Online
One of OpenShift virtualization’s handiest features lets you expand VM disk space while systems are running. Similar to how you would increase storage for containers, you can bump up a VM’s disk size by tweaking its PVC settings.
There’s one catch though: Your storage class needs to support volume expansion. Since OpenShift virtualization is built on Kubernetes storage, you can use any CSI provisioner that handles online volume expansion. When you need more space, just update the PVC with your desired size, and the VM’s storage will grow automatically — no downtime required.
This on-the-fly disk expansion makes life much easier compared to traditional storage management methods. Gone are the days of complex, disruptive procedures — now you can quickly adjust storage capacity whenever your VMs need it.
OpenShift virtualization treats VM storage just like other OpenShift resources, using KubeVirt’s APIs to simplify everyday storage tasks. Whether you are adding disks, removing them or expanding them while running, these operations become straightforward and efficient, making the admin’s job easier and the virtualization setup more flexible.
Cloning and Snapshotting Virtual Machines with KubeVirt
OpenShift virtualization, with the power of KubeVirt, offers advanced features like cloning and snapshotting VMs, enabling users to create instant copies of their VMs for various purposes such as backup, testing or rapid deployment. These capabilities significantly enhance the agility and resilience of the virtualization environment.
Cloning Virtual Machines
When you clone a VM in OpenShift, you are essentially creating a perfect copy — from its core settings to storage and networking configurations. Thanks to KubeVirt’s integration with Kubernetes’ declarative model and PVC handling, this process is straightforward.
The cloning workflow starts when you create a new PVC that points to your source VM’s PVC as its data source. Behind the scenes, KubeVirt automatically provisions a new PV using your chosen storage class and transfers data from the original PVC to the new one. Since Kubernetes manages the entire process, you won’t need to handle the technical details manually.
After cloning is completed, you can launch a new VM instance using your cloned PVC. This makes it simple to spin up identical VM copies, perfect for when you need to build test environments, scale up your applications or implement disaster recovery systems.
Snapshotting Virtual Machines
OpenShift virtualization includes a powerful snapshotting capability through KubeVirt that lets you capture your VM’s complete state — both disk data and configuration — at any given moment. Think of snapshots as time-machine backups that you can jump back to whenever needed.
The beauty of KubeVirt is how it works seamlessly with storage providers that support snapshots. It taps into Kubernetes’ native storage framework and CSI drivers, making it compatible with a wide range of storage backends for snapshot management.
Creating a snapshot is straightforward — just set up a VirtualMachineSnapshot resource where you specify which VM you want to snapshot and how. Behind the scenes, KubeVirt coordinates with your storage provider to capture the VM’s disk state. These snapshots are stored independently and serve as restore points for your VM.
The practical benefits of snapshots are numerous. They act as an insurance policy against data disasters, give you the freedom to experiment with VM settings without fear and make it a breeze to recover from system hiccups or configuration mistakes.
When you combine KubeVirt’s cloning and snapshotting features, you get a robust toolset for managing VMs in OpenShift virtualization. These capabilities don’t just make your virtual environment more flexible and scalable; they also help ensure your workloads stay reliable and can adapt quickly when needs change.
Conclusion
Managing VMs in Kubernetes is a lot easier thanks to OpenShift virtualization and KubeVirt. This powerful combination lets you handle VM storage directly through OpenShift, treating storage components as native objects within the Kubernetes framework — a huge step forward for storage management efficiency.
Need to add, remove or expand disks while your VMs are running? No problem. These day-to-day operations can now be handled on the fly, without any service interruptions. This flexibility makes it much simpler to adjust your storage setup as your needs change.
KubeVirt shines when it comes to cloning and snapshots. You can spin up exact copies of VMs in an instant, which is perfect for testing, scaling or rapid deployment scenarios. The snapshot feature lets you capture VM states at any moment, making it a breeze to roll back changes or safeguard your data.
By bringing virtualization and containerization together under one roof, OpenShift and KubeVirt offer the best of both worlds. Teams can now manage their entire infrastructure — whether containerized or virtualized — through a single, unified platform with consistent tools and processes.
For companies looking to modernize their infrastructure while maintaining VM support, OpenShift virtualization with KubeVirt hits the sweet spot. It bridges the gap between traditional VM workloads and modern container orchestration, setting organizations up for a more agile and efficient future.