About Ceph
Ceph is an open source distributed storage system. It provides object, block and file storage from a single cluster built on standard server hardware.
What it does
Ceph spreads data across many machines and keeps copies, so a failed disk or node does not have to stop the service. Applications can reach it through an S3-compatible object gateway, through block devices, or through a file system interface. You add machines to grow capacity, which is why it is often used for large private storage clusters. The project publishes its code, architecture notes and release schedule for anyone to study.
Key features
- Object, block and file interfaces in one cluster
- Runs on commodity server hardware
- S3 bucket notifications for event-driven apps
- Open source code you can read and modify
Who it's for
Infrastructure teams and cloud providers that run large private storage. It suits organizations that have a storage team able to plan, deploy and tune a cluster over time.
Pricing and good to know
Ceph is free to download and use, and it is governed by a Linux Foundation project. Deployment and daily operation take real skill, so budget for staff time or for a commercial support provider. The documentation covers cluster setup, upgrades and the release calendar, which helps when you plan maintenance windows.
Highlights
- Object, block and file storage in one cluster
- Scales out by adding commodity servers
- S3 bucket notifications for event pipelines
- Open source code you can inspect
