The OpenStack component that provides an API to create block storage for your cloud is called OpenStack Block Storage service, or Cinder. Cinder requires you to configure one or multiple supported back ends.
MCP Reference Architecture uses Ceph cluster as a default back end for OpenStack Block Storage service. Ceph supports object, block, and file storage. Therefore, you can use it as OpenStack Block Storage service back end to deliver a reliable, highly available block storage solution without single points of failure.
In addition to Ceph cluster, MCP supports Cinder drivers. If you already use a network storage solution, such as NAS or SAN, you can use it as a storage back end for Cinder using a corresponding Cinder driver, if available.
See also