EDB is actively pushing the boundaries of innovation by improving both PostgreSQL and Kubernetes. This commitment to open source innovation las led us to a monumental achievement: our first official contribution to Kubernetes has been accepted into the platform. This milestone, centered on the promotion of the VolumeGroupSnapshot feature from alpha to beta in Kubernetes 1.32, underscores EDB’s commitment to innovation and leadership in the PostgreSQL and Kubernetes communities.
EDB is proud to recognize Principal Engineer Leonardo Cecchi for his outstanding contributions to Volume Group Snapshots—a game-changing feature that will significantly improve data protection for PostgreSQL databases in cloud-native environments.
Why VolumeGroupSnapshot Matters
In databases, consistency is critical—particularly when dealing with backups and disaster recovery. Traditionally, snapshotting in Kubernetes has been limited to individual volumes, which works but has limitations when managing databases spread across multiple volumes. VolumeGroupSnapshot revolutionizes this by enabling consistent snapshotting of a set of volumes, ensuring seamless backups and recovery.
This feature, pivotal for cloud-native environments, is a game-changer for PostgreSQL databases. For example, in Postgres, transaction logs (WAL files) and data files often reside on separate volumes. The ability to snapshot these simultaneously and consistently significantly simplifies recovery processes, making it easier to restore complex database systems.
The Journey from Alpha to Beta
As Leonardo explained, "The promotion from alpha to beta signifies stability and usability. In the alpha stage, features are experimental and subject to change. Beta, however, signals a strong guarantee: the API is stable, ready for use in production, and future changes will remain backward-compatible."
Leonardo worked closely with engineers from Red Hat and Broadcom, underscoring our dedication to advancing the PostgreSQL/Kubernetes ecosystem and delivering tangible value to the community. EDB’s collaboration with Kubernetes’ SIG Storage group was also a major factor in making this achievement possible.
VolumeGroupSnapshot has literally been years in the making, and Leonardo’s extensive contributions, evident in Kubernetes’ changelogs, have been instrumental. The work on VolumeGroupSnapshot officially began in February of 2020. Then the effort to promote Volume Group Snapshots to beta started Aug 30 2024, and culminated in Kubernetes 1.32’s release in December.
EDB’s Unique Position in the Postgres and Kubernetes Ecosystem
Gabriele Bartolini, EDB’s VP and Chief Architect, emphasized the broader implications of this achievement: “This milestone highlights EDB’s holistic approach to innovation. We’re not just enhancing PostgreSQL or developing CloudNativePG; we’re also contributing to Kubernetes itself. Our efforts span all three domains, making us unique in the database space.”
EDB has a long history of advancing PostgreSQL, with over two decades of contributions to its core development. In recent years, we’ve extended this expertise to the cloud-native space through CloudNativePG, a Kubernetes operator for PostgreSQL. Now, with VolumeGroupSnapshot, EDB solidifies its role in defining the future of databases in Kubernetes.
Collaboration and Community Impact
The promotion of VolumeGroupSnapshot is not just a technical achievement; it’s a testament to collaboration. EDB engineers worked alongside contributors from Red Hat and Broadcom to design and implement this feature. By enhancing Kubernetes’ storage capabilities, we’ve paved the way for vendors like Dell, Portworx, and Red Hat’s Ceph to adopt and extend this functionality.
“This is a major step for disaster recovery and backup in cloud-native environments,” noted Gabriele. “It demonstrates how EDB is driving innovation not only in PostgreSQL but also in Kubernetes, enabling a seamless experience for cloud-native database workloads.”
What’s Next for EDB?
The journey doesn’t stop here. As part of our commitment to the Kubernetes ecosystem, EDB plans to integrate VolumeGroupSnapshot support into CloudNativePG in version 1.26. This will empower users to leverage this feature for PostgreSQL backups and disaster recovery seamlessly.
Additionally, EDB’s involvement with the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) and partnerships with the Data on Kubernetes (DoK) community highlight our dedication to advancing the cloud-native database landscape. As a CNCF Silver Member, EDB continues to align with the foundation’s vision, contributing to open-source innovation and collaboration.
The power of the open source community
This achievement is more than a milestone for EDB; it’s a testament to what’s possible when communities and organizations come together to push the boundaries of technology. We’re proud to be at the forefront of this evolution, and we’re excited to see how the PostgreSQL and Kubernetes ecosystems will benefit from this innovation.
To learn more about VolumeGroupSnapshot and its potential impact, visit the official Kubernetes 1.32 release notes or check out the CloudNativePG roadmap to see how EDB is integrating this feature. Together, we’re shaping the future of databases in the cloud-native era.