Kubernetes, innovation, and hybrid cloud storage leader.
IT Press Tour #37 had the opportunity to meet with the MinIO team to learn how they are evolving their private cloud storage solution for Kubernetes and how they are positioned to win in the hybrid-cloud storage market.
MinIO is a high-performance Kubernetes-native object store designed for large-scale data infrastructure. It was built from scratch with the private cloud as its target and it's the new standard for the hybrid cloud.
The guiding principles are performance, cloud-native, and simplicity. MinIO is focused on performance and strives to be the fastest object store in existence. It's Kubernetes-native and born in the cloud with cloud-native DNA. It's built for simplicity because simplicity scales.
Kubernetes (K8)s is the standard for cloud architecture. It leveraged the learning of hyper-scalers with APIs, automation, and simplicity. K8s imparts that wisdom to everyone. It provides one abstraction across any computing infrastructure -- public, private, or edge. It's better at managing compute resources, ensuring resilience, delivering scalability, and providing continuity. Open source is a critical component of success. The community built momentum in terms of both features and companies.
MinIO was built natively for RESTful APIs, not POSIX. It doesn't require drivers or connectors, it just works. S3 is the default API for object storage making MinIO the leader in compatibility. First to market with V4 and one of the few to support S3 Select. More than 61% of MinIO instances are containerized. More than 48% of those are managed via K8s. This is consistent with the highest in the industry.
MinIO is VMware's selected design partner. VMware made changes to let K8s apps like MinIO run unmodified. VMware enabled specific functionality to let MinIO run at full speed -- providing direct access to the drive and control over key functionality. MinIO collaborated on key functionality like EMM and Evacuate Nodes to leverage VMware's strong operational pedigree.
K8s' success is the modern object storage's success. Other vendors are trying to catch up but they are retrofitting legacy approaches. This is difficult, expensive, and time-consuming. The cloud-native ecosystem is consolidating around MinIO from major players like VMware to start-ups like Kasten. Cloud-native applications require cloud-native storage.
MinIO is built for IT, developers, and DevOps. It lowers the barrier to entry to implement advanced features from Active/Active replication to K8s. IT can now manage Amazon-scale infrastructure with fewer resources. Interfaces deliver scalability and automation. The addition of a graphical interface does not diminish the functionality of the CLI, it just expands the audience. No compromise, just additional interaction options.
MinIO has a strong position in hybrid cloud with more than 10 million IPs across AWS, Azure, and GCP. They have another 5 million in Hetzner, Bouygues, KPN, and OVH. Expertise in S3 and K8s ensures seamless integration into every public cloud with native integration to the storage layer. K8s leadership puts MinIO at the center of VMware, Ezmeral, and soon, OpenShift. They are committed to being in every major K8s ecosystem. AWS S3 will not be on VMware or OpenShift with an Outpost appliance.