Docker & Kubernetes · Module 11

Kubernetes Storage and Configuration – Volumes, PV/PVC, ConfigMaps, Secrets

Mount volumes into pods, request durable storage through PVCs and StorageClasses, and keep configuration and secrets out of images with ConfigMaps and Secrets.

Practice interactively →

What you will learn

• Choose emptyDir, hostPath or other volumes by data lifetime
• Explain PVs, PVCs, access modes and binding
• Use StorageClasses for dynamic provisioning and understand reclaimPolicy and snapshots
• Create and use ConfigMaps and Secrets safely

Lessons

1. Volumes in a Pod — emptyDir, hostPath and others

   Volumes are declared in spec.volumes and mounted with volumeMounts; emptyDir lives with the pod, hostPath lives on one node.

2. PersistentVolumes and PersistentVolumeClaims

   A PV is cluster storage, a PVC is an app's request for storage; pods use PVCs, never PVs directly.

3. StorageClasses and Volume Snapshots

   StorageClasses let PVs be created automatically by storage "type"; reclaimPolicy decides the fate of the real disk; snapshots need a CSI driver.

4. ConfigMaps and Secrets

   ConfigMaps hold configuration, Secrets hold sensitive data; both reach pods as env vars or volumes. Base64 is not encryption.