Technology

Ceph

A distributed storage system providing object, block, and file storage in a unified platform. S3 compatibility via its RADOS Gateway (RGW).

6 connections 3 resources

Summary

What it is

A distributed storage system providing object, block, and file storage in a unified platform. S3 compatibility via its RADOS Gateway (RGW).

Where it fits

Ceph is the enterprise-grade, self-managed storage platform for organizations that need S3-compatible object storage alongside block and file access from a single infrastructure.

Misconceptions / Traps
  • Ceph is not just an object store — it is a unified storage platform. The S3 gateway is one component. Operational complexity is significantly higher than MinIO.
  • S3 API coverage in Ceph RGW is broad but not complete. Test specific API operations (multipart uploads, lifecycle policies) before production use.
Key Connections
  • implements S3 API — via RADOS Gateway
  • solves Vendor Lock-In — self-hosted deployment option
  • scoped_to S3, Object Storage — participates in the S3-compatible ecosystem

Definition

What it is

A distributed storage system providing object, block, and file storage in a single unified platform. Exposes S3 compatibility through its RADOS Gateway (RGW) component.

Why it exists

Infrastructure operators need a single storage platform that can serve multiple protocols. Ceph's S3 gateway allows existing S3 workloads to run against self-managed, software-defined storage.

Primary use cases

Unified on-premise storage, S3-compatible private cloud, research and academic data infrastructure.

Connections 6

Outbound 4
scoped_to2
S3Object Storage
implements1
S3 API
solves1
Vendor Lock-In
Inbound 2
depends_on2
RookSoftIron

Resources 3

DocsHigh
docs.ceph.com/en/latest/

Official Ceph documentation hub covering all components including RADOS, RBD, CephFS, and the S3-compatible object gateway.

DocsHigh
docs.ceph.com/en/latest/radosgw/s3/

Dedicated S3 API compatibility reference for Ceph's RADOS Gateway, detailing which S3 operations are supported and how.

GitHubHigh
github.com/ceph/ceph

The main Ceph repository with the full source including the radosgw S3 implementation.