Architecture Overview and Deployment of OpenShift Data Foundation Using Internal Mode
As businesses increasingly move their applications to containers and hybrid cloud platforms, the need for reliable, scalable, and integrated storage becomes more critical than ever. Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation (ODF) is designed to meet this need by delivering enterprise-grade storage for workloads running in the OpenShift Container Platform.
In this article, we’ll explore the architecture of ODF and how it can be deployed using Internal Mode, the most self-sufficient and easy-to-manage deployment option.
🌐 What Is OpenShift Data Foundation?
OpenShift Data Foundation is a software-defined storage solution that is fully integrated into OpenShift. It allows you to provide storage services for containers running on your cluster — including block storage (like virtual hard drives), file storage (like shared folders), and object storage (like cloud-based buckets used for backups, media, and large datasets).
ODF ensures your applications have persistent and reliable access to data even if they restart or move between nodes.
Understanding the Architecture (Internal Mode)
There are multiple ways to deploy ODF, but Internal Mode is one of the most straightforward and popular for small to medium-sized environments.
Here’s what Internal Mode looks like at a high level:
Self-contained: Everything runs within the OpenShift cluster, with no need for an external storage system.
Uses local disks: It uses spare or dedicated disks already attached to the nodes in your cluster.
Automated management: The system automatically handles setup, storage distribution, replication, and health monitoring.
Key Components:
Storage Cluster: The core of the system that manages how data is stored and accessed.
Ceph Storage Engine: A reliable and scalable open-source storage backend used by ODF.
Object Gateway: Provides cloud-like storage for applications needing S3-compatible services.
Monitoring Tools: Dashboards and health checks help administrators manage storage effortlessly.
🚀 Deploying OpenShift Data Foundation (No Commands Needed!)
Deployment is mostly handled through the OpenShift Web Console with a guided setup wizard. Here’s a simplified view of the steps:
Install the ODF Operator
Go to the OperatorHub within OpenShift and search for OpenShift Data Foundation.
Click Install and choose your settings.
Choose Internal Mode
When prompted, select "Internal" to use disks inside the cluster.
The platform will detect available storage and walk you through setup.
Assign Nodes for Storage
Pick which OpenShift nodes will handle the storage.
The system will ensure data is distributed and protected across them.
Verify Health and Usage
After installation, built-in dashboards let you check storage health, usage, and performance at any time.
Once deployed, OpenShift will automatically use this storage for your stateful applications, databases, and other services that need persistent data.
🎯 Why Choose Internal Mode?
Quick setup: Minimal external requirements — perfect for edge or on-prem deployments.
Cost-effective: Uses existing hardware, reducing the need for third-party storage.
Tightly integrated: Built to work seamlessly with OpenShift, including security, access, and automation.
Scalable: Can grow with your needs, adding more storage or transitioning to hybrid options later.
📌 Common Use Cases
Databases and stateful applications in OpenShift
Development and test environments
AI/ML workloads needing fast local storage
Backup and disaster recovery targets
Final Thoughts
OpenShift Data Foundation in Internal Mode gives teams a simple, powerful way to deliver production-grade storage without relying on external systems. Its seamless integration with OpenShift, combined with intelligent automation and a user-friendly interface, makes it ideal for modern DevOps and platform teams.
Whether you’re running applications on-premises, in a private cloud, or at the edge — Internal Mode offers a reliable and efficient storage foundation to support your workloads.
Want to learn more about managing storage in OpenShift? Stay tuned for our next article on scaling and monitoring your ODF cluster!
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