Learn about the key concepts behind OVHcloud File Storage Service for Public Cloud, when to use managed NFS shares, and how they fit into your cloud architecture.
For step-by-step provisioning and mounting, see File Storage Service – Getting Started.
What is File Storage Service?
OVHcloud File Storage Service provides managed NFS shares for your compute workloads (instances, Kubernetes clusters, and other clients) over your private network. Shares can be configured across multiple servers or instances as long as they are on the same private network or vRack.
- Built on
OpenStack Manila. - Shares are NFS exports with controlled network placement and access rules.
Key properties:
-
NFS protocol– NFSv4 recommended. -
ReadWriteMany (RWX)– multiple clients can mount the same share concurrently. -
Private connectivity– intended for private networks, not public Internet access.
Comparison with other storage models
| Data model | File Storage (NFS) | Block Storage | Object Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concurrent writers | Multiple clients (RWX) | Usually single instance | Many clients via API |
| Typical access | Mount path (/mnt/…) | OS device or partition | Applications using S3™* SDK/CLI |
| Good for | Shared files, CMS storage, pipelines, some ML datasets | Databases, boot/data disks, low-latency storage | Backups, archives, static assets, data lakes |
NOTE: This table is a decision aid. Always validate latency, throughput, and protocol requirements with your own tests.
Architecture overview
Logical components of File Storage Service:
- Public Cloud project – billing and IAM boundaries.
- Region – aligns share location with your compute instances.
- Private network & subnet – share is linked to your private networking (VLAN / vRack).
- Share – managed NFS export (capacity, name, status).
- ACLs / access rules – define which clients (IP addresses) can mount the share.
-
Clients – instances or clusters mounting the NFS export on a path such as
/mnt/share.
Operations & interfaces:
- OVHcloud API v1
- OpenStack CLI (Manila plugin)
- Manila CSI (Kubernetes)
- Terraform
- The OVHcloud Control Panel
NOTE: Quotas, max share sizes, and limits are defined in the OVHcloud catalog. Always check current values in the Control Panel.
Data protection and snapshots
Snapshots provide point-in-time views of share data:
- Operational recovery – rollback after errors or accidental deletions.
- Change management – snapshot before major upgrades.
Snapshots do not replace full backup strategies, which should include off-site copies, immutability, and ransomware protection.
For API steps to manage snapshots, see File Storage Service – Managing Share Snapshots.
Security and shared responsibility
You remain responsible for:
- Network security – private network design, routing, firewalls.
- NFS access control – client access, IP rules, least privilege.
- OS and application security – on all clients mounting the share.
Billing (high level)
- Billed for provisioned share capacity (per GiB-hour or equivalent).
- Snapshots may consume additional capacity and could be billed separately.
- Check OVHcloud Control Panel and official pricing pages for current rates.
Go further
For more information and tutorials, please see our other Public Cloud support guides or explore the guides for other OVHcloud products and services.
*S3 is a trademark filed by Amazon Technologies, Inc. OVHcloud's service is not sponsored by, endorsed by, or otherwise affiliated with Amazon Technologies, Inc.