Storage kernel extensions provide the critical interfaces between the operating system’s vnode and Virtual File System (VFS) layers, enabling custom file systems to be integrated and recognized as native components.
In this session, I will offer a concise overview of how file system kernel extensions are used within Software‑Defined Storage (SDS) architecture.
I will walk through the end‑to‑end process of building and deploying kernel modules in both containerized and traditional (non‑containerized) SDS environments, highlighting practical considerations and common challenges.
Finally, I will demonstrate how the Kernel Module Management (KMM) Operator for Kubernetes and OpenShift streamlines the lifecycle of file system kernel modules — simplifying their build, deployment, and maintenance within a modern SDS system.