What storage your workspaces need

Che workspaces store project files in a hierarchical directory structure and require specific storage capabilities depending on the selected strategy.

All workspace storage must use volumeMode: FileSystem.

The per-user storage strategy shares a single Persistent Volume Claim (PVC) across all of a user’s workspaces. This requires ReadWriteMany (RWX) access mode so that multiple workspace pods can mount the same volume simultaneously.

Choosing a storage backend for the Per-User strategy

Generic NFS provisioning supports RWX access but has two operational limitations:

  • Quota enforcement: Kubernetes PVCs cannot reliably enforce storage quotas on generic NFS volumes. A single workspace can exceed its allocation and consume the entire shared volume, causing instability for all users on that node.

  • Data integrity: Generic NFS implementations often lack the locking and cache coherency required when multiple cluster nodes access the same volume concurrently.

To avoid these issues, use a certified clustered or managed storage solution with a CSI driver that enforces quota limits and provides high-performance RWX file access. Most cloud providers offer suitable CSI drivers, and community-supported distributed storage projects are also available.