#Introduction

The Container Object Storage Interface (COSI) is a Kubernetes-native framework for managing object storage services through standardized and declarative APIs. COSI extends the Kubernetes storage model so workloads can request object storage resources through Kubernetes-style objects.

COSI enables administrators to define, provision, and consume object storage buckets through familiar Kubernetes-style APIs. It simplifies integration between applications and backend object storage systems, automating the lifecycle of buckets and their access credentials. With COSI, Kubernetes users can request object storage resources dynamically, reducing manual configuration overhead and improving operational efficiency.

By adopting COSI, enterprises can:

• Standardize object storage provisioning across multiple cloud and on-premises environments.
• Dynamically create and manage buckets through declarative resource definitions.
• Seamlessly distribute access credentials to workloads via Kubernetes Secrets.
• Align object storage management with Kubernetes persistent storage patterns for a unified experience.

#Limitations

• COSI is currently in alpha.
• At present, COSI only supports the Ceph RGW driver.
• Integration with legacy object storage buckets might require additional manual configurations.