Architecting Scalable Persistent Storage for Kubernetes with CSI And Container-Native Storage Solutions

Abstract

As Kubernetes becomes the de facto platform for deploying modern, cloud-native applications, the need for scalable, resilient, and high-performance persistent storage has never been more critical. Traditional storage paradigms often fall short in dynamic, containerized environments, where workloads are ephemeral, multi-tenant, and demand seamless state management across distributed systems. This article explores the architectural foundations and best practices for implementing persistent storage in Kubernetes using the Container Storage Interface (CSI) and container-native storage solutions such as Portworx, OpenEBS, and Ceph.

We begin by unpacking the evolution of storage in Kubernetes, highlighting the limitations of in-tree plugins and the standardized abstraction that CSI provides. The discussion then delves into the design principles behind scalable storage architectures tailored for Kubernetes, including storage class provisioning, dynamic volume lifecycle management, and storage orchestration across hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures. The article also examines critical considerations such as performance tuning, availability, disaster recovery, and data locality.

Through real-world examples and use cases, readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to architect storage layers that align with Kubernetes-native paradigms while meeting enterprise-grade SLAs. By the end, practitioners will be equipped with the insights and strategies needed to design and operate persistent storage backends that scale reliably with the demands of modern applications running in Kubernetes.