Ensuring XFS volumes on GCE / GKE

Question

I'd like to run several stateful applications (such as MongoDB, Kafka, etc.). All of them recommend using XFS as file system, however I don't know how I can ensure the creation of a XFS file system in Google's Kubernetes Engine / Google Cloud Compute Engine.

I usually deploy my applications with a helm chart and I couldn't find any hints that it would take care of the XFS filesystem for me either.

Question:

Can someone explain me how I can ensure the creation of XFS volumes in GKE / GCE / Kubernetes?

Answer 1

At the moment using XFS as file system on Google's Kubernetes Engine is not supported, but there is a feature request to enable Support XFS on Container-Optimized OS (when choosing COS). Therefore, you can choose Ubuntu node image for your XFS needs, check this link .

Answer 2

"Limited" support will be available (for XFS) from COS-85 onward.

See: https://cloud.google.com/container-optimized-os/docs/concepts/supported-filesystems

The work-around to get xfs support in your COS < 85 is normally not worth the time and effort. Until then, you have to live with ext4.

(COS = Container-Optimized OS)

I have the following in Feb 2021:

gke-myproject-production-pool-1-12345-abc ~ #  date
Fri Feb 12 11:28:56 UTC 2021

gke-myproject-production-pool-1-12345-abc ~ # cat /etc/os-release
BUILD_ID=12871.1218.0
NAME="Container-Optimized OS"
KERNEL_COMMIT_ID=5319ad296f69c96f28ec39084d94927beab6b8e3
GOOGLE_CRASH_ID=Lakitu
VERSION_ID=81
BUG_REPORT_URL="https://cloud.google.com/container-optimized-os/docs/resources/support-policy#contact_us"
PRETTY_NAME="Container-Optimized OS from Google"
VERSION=81
GOOGLE_METRICS_PRODUCT_ID=26
HOME_URL="https://cloud.google.com/container-optimized-os/docs"
ID=cos