Storage classes for dynamic provisioning in Kubernetes - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Storage classes for dynamic provisioning

📖 Scenario: You are managing a Kubernetes cluster that needs to automatically create storage volumes for applications when they request storage. This is called dynamic provisioning. You will create a StorageClass to define how storage is dynamically created, then create a PersistentVolumeClaim that uses this StorageClass.

🎯 Goal: Build a StorageClass named fast-storage that provisions storage dynamically with the kubernetes.io/aws-ebs provisioner and a PersistentVolumeClaim named fast-pvc that uses this StorageClass to request 5Gi of storage.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a StorageClass named fast-storage with provisioner kubernetes.io/aws-ebs

Set the StorageClass parameter type to gp2

Create a PersistentVolumeClaim named fast-pvc that uses the fast-storage StorageClass

Request exactly 5Gi of storage in the PersistentVolumeClaim

Use access mode ReadWriteOnce in the PersistentVolumeClaim

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Dynamic provisioning allows Kubernetes to automatically create storage volumes when applications need them, saving manual setup time and reducing errors.

💼 Career

Understanding StorageClasses and PVCs is essential for Kubernetes administrators and DevOps engineers managing stateful applications in cloud environments.

1

Create the StorageClass manifest

Create a YAML manifest for a StorageClass named fast-storage with the provisioner set to kubernetes.io/aws-ebs.

Kubernetes

# Create StorageClass named fast-storage with provisioner kubernetes.io/aws-ebs

Need a hint?

The kind must be StorageClass. The metadata.name is fast-storage. The provisioner is kubernetes.io/aws-ebs. Add parameters: with type: gp2.

2

Create the PersistentVolumeClaim manifest

Create a YAML manifest for a PersistentVolumeClaim named fast-pvc that uses the StorageClass fast-storage.

Kubernetes

apiVersion: storage.k8s.io/v1
kind: StorageClass
metadata:
  name: fast-storage
provisioner: kubernetes.io/aws-ebs
parameters:
  type: gp2

# Create PersistentVolumeClaim named fast-pvc using StorageClass fast-storage

Need a hint?

The kind is PersistentVolumeClaim. The metadata.name is fast-pvc. Under spec, set storageClassName to fast-storage. Request 5Gi storage and use access mode ReadWriteOnce.

3

Apply the manifests to the cluster

Use the kubectl apply -f command to apply the YAML file containing both the StorageClass and PersistentVolumeClaim manifests.

Kubernetes

apiVersion: storage.k8s.io/v1
kind: StorageClass
metadata:
  name: fast-storage
provisioner: kubernetes.io/aws-ebs
parameters:
  type: gp2
---
apiVersion: v1
kind: PersistentVolumeClaim
metadata:
  name: fast-pvc
spec:
  accessModes:
    - ReadWriteOnce
  resources:
    requests:
      storage: 5Gi
  storageClassName: fast-storage

# Run kubectl apply -f storage.yaml

Need a hint?

Use kubectl apply -f storage.yaml to create the StorageClass and PersistentVolumeClaim in the cluster.

4

Verify the PersistentVolumeClaim status

Run the command kubectl get pvc fast-pvc to check the status of the PersistentVolumeClaim and print the output.

Kubernetes

apiVersion: storage.k8s.io/v1
kind: StorageClass
metadata:
  name: fast-storage
provisioner: kubernetes.io/aws-ebs
parameters:
  type: gp2
---
apiVersion: v1
kind: PersistentVolumeClaim
metadata:
  name: fast-pvc
spec:
  accessModes:
    - ReadWriteOnce
  resources:
    requests:
      storage: 5Gi
  storageClassName: fast-storage

# Run kubectl get pvc fast-pvc and print output

Need a hint?

Run kubectl get pvc fast-pvc to see the status. The output should include the name fast-pvc and show its status like Bound.