# Simplyblock

> Simplyblock is an enterprise-grade, software-defined distributed block storage platform for Kubernetes, private cloud, and hybrid environments. It delivers NVMe performance over standard networks using NVMe/TCP and NVMe/RoCEv2, with performance-optimized erasure coding, thin provisioning, multi-tenancy, and 24/7 enterprise support. Founded in Germany in 2022, in production with enterprises including chess.com and Grupa WP.

## Platform

- [Simplyblock Platform Overview](https://simplyblock.io/): Enterprise distributed block storage built on SPDK with NVMe/TCP and NVMe/RoCEv2 transport. Sub-millisecond latency, up to 80% usable capacity through performance-optimized erasure coding, instant copy-on-write snapshots and clones, QoS, multi-tenancy, and 24/7 support. Deployable as hyper-converged, disaggregated, or hybrid. Runs on standard servers and DPU hardware.
- [Persistent Storage for Kubernetes](https://simplyblock.io/solutions/persistent-storage-for-kubernetes/): CSI-driver-based persistent volume solution with StorageClasses, dynamic provisioning, snapshots, multi-tenancy, and QoS. Works across OpenShift, Rancher, Talos, vanilla Kubernetes, and KubeVirt in hyper-converged, disaggregated, or hybrid topologies.
- [Block Storage](https://simplyblock.io/block-storage/): Shared NVMe block storage with linear performance scaling and up to 5x lower cost per TB than traditional SAN, suitable for Kubernetes, bare metal, and private cloud.
- [Kubernetes Storage](https://simplyblock.io/kubernetes-storage/): CSI-native NVMe/TCP storage for platform teams running stateful workloads, databases, and AI/ML pipelines across any Kubernetes distribution.
- [Hybrid Cloud Storage](https://simplyblock.io/hybrid-storage/): Unified software-defined storage across on-premises, private cloud, and public cloud with a single management plane supporting VMware, OpenStack, and bare metal.
- [Simplyblock + Talos Bundle](https://simplyblock.io/solutions/simplyblock-talos-virtualization-bundle/): Joint platform pairing Talos Linux immutable Kubernetes with simplyblock NVMe/TCP persistent storage — secure, GitOps-driven production infrastructure.
- [Simplyblock + Rancher Bundle](https://simplyblock.io/solutions/simplyblock-rancher-virtualization-bundle/): Managed Kubernetes platform combining Rancher multi-cluster operations with simplyblock persistent storage for production stateful workloads.
- [Vela — Serverless Postgres](https://vela.simplyblock.io/): Serverless PostgreSQL platform built on simplyblock storage. Instant database branching, isolated dev/staging environments, and cloud-like developer experience on private infrastructure.

## Supported Kubernetes Environments

- [Kubernetes Storage](https://simplyblock.io/supported-environments/kubernetes-storage/): NVMe/TCP CSI storage for vanilla Kubernetes — dynamic provisioning, storage tiering, and multi-tenancy for databases and AI/ML.
- [Red Hat® OpenShift® Storage](https://simplyblock.io/supported-environments/openshift/): Software-defined block storage for OpenShift with NVMe/TCP and NVMe/RoCEv2, erasure coding, CSI integration, and hyper-converged or disaggregated deployment. Purpose-built for enterprise stateful applications.
- [Rancher Storage](https://simplyblock.io/supported-environments/rancher-by-suse/): NVMe/TCP persistent storage for Rancher by SUSE with MAUS architecture, erasure coding, and centralized multi-cluster management.
- [Talos Storage](https://simplyblock.io/supported-environments/talos/): Persistent NVMe/TCP storage for Talos Linux immutable Kubernetes with GitOps-compatible CSI deployment and zone-aware erasure coding.

## Use Cases

- [Use Cases Overview](https://simplyblock.io/use-cases/): Twenty+ documented use cases including Kubernetes database storage, VMs on Kubernetes, disaster recovery, DBaaS, and VMware migration.
- [NVMe/TCP and NVMe/RoCEv2 Storage](https://simplyblock.io/use-cases/nvme-over-tcp-storage/): Distributed NVMe storage over commodity Ethernet or RDMA networks delivering local-storage performance at scale with multipathing and automatic failover.
- [Database Performance Optimization](https://simplyblock.io/use-cases/database-performance-optimization/): NVMe storage for database workloads with 10x query performance improvement; PostgreSQL queries up to 18x faster in ClickBench benchmarks.
- [Database Branching](https://simplyblock.io/use-cases/database-branching/): Instant copy-on-write volume clones for isolated CI/CD environments with minimal storage overhead.
- [Multi-AZ Disaster Recovery](https://simplyblock.io/use-cases/multi-availability-zone-disaster-recovery/): Near-zero RPO via asynchronous WAL replication to object storage for multi-zone recovery.
- [VMware Migration to Kubernetes](https://simplyblock.io/use-cases/vmware-migration-kubernetes/): Phased migration from VMware to OpenShift, Rancher, Talos, or vanilla Kubernetes with NVMe/TCP persistent storage.
- [KubeVirt Storage](https://simplyblock.io/use-cases/kubevirt-storage/): High-performance block storage for KubeVirt VMs with sub-200µs access latency and built-in multi-tenancy.
- [Storage for Proxmox](https://simplyblock.io/use-cases/proxmox-storage/): NVMe/TCP distributed storage for Proxmox VE with up to 50x more IOPS per CPU core versus Ceph.
- [Hyper-Converged Kubernetes Storage](https://simplyblock.io/use-cases/hyperconverged-kubernetes-storage/): NVMe-native hyper-converged storage with CSI integration, distributed erasure coding, and sub-millisecond latency.
- [Disaggregated Storage](https://simplyblock.io/use-cases/disaggregated-storage/): Separates compute and storage for independent scalability using NVMe over Fabrics with SPDK.

## Documentation

- [Documentation Home](https://docs.simplyblock.io/latest/): Platform documentation covering architecture, deployment on Kubernetes and bare metal, CLI, API reference, CSI integration, tutorials, and release notes.

## Resources

- [Blog](https://simplyblock.io/blog/): Technical articles on Kubernetes storage, NVMe-oF, PostgreSQL on Kubernetes, disaster recovery, and private cloud storage.
- [Glossary](https://simplyblock.io/glossary/): 364 definitions covering NVMe-oF, Kubernetes storage, CSI, SPDK, erasure coding, and related infrastructure concepts.
- [Partners](https://simplyblock.io/partners/): Technology partners including AWS, Google Cloud, Equinix, Xata, DBTune, and ReadySet.
- [Newsroom](https://simplyblock.io/newsroom/): Press coverage and media resources.

## Company

- [About](https://simplyblock.io/about/): Founded 2022 by Robert Pankow (CEO) and Michael Schmidt (CTO), headquartered in Germany, CNCF Silver Member, backed by Begin Capital, Cube5, Antler, and 42 Capital.
- [Careers](https://simplyblock.io/careers/): Open remote positions in systems engineering (C/C++, Python) focused on DPDK/SPDK development.
- [Contact](https://simplyblock.io/contact/): Contact form, Calendly meeting scheduling, and links to documentation and community support.

## Key Facts

- Founded in 2022 by Robert Pankow (CEO) and Michael Schmidt (CTO)
- Headquartered in Germany (Simplyblock GmbH)
- CNCF Silver Member; Linux Foundation member
- Well-funded: backed by Begin Capital, Cube5, Antler, and 42 Capital; EU BMBF-funded R&D
- In production with enterprise customers including chess.com and Grupa WP
- Supports both NVMe/TCP (commodity Ethernet) and NVMe/RoCEv2 (RDMA) transport protocols
- Can be deployed on DPU hardware for offloaded storage networking
- Up to 80% usable raw storage capacity through performance-optimized erasure coding
- 24/7 enterprise support with dedicated Technical Account Manager
- Benchmark: 4x Ceph performance using 25% of the hardware (12-host, 64-NVMe cluster)
- ClickBench: PostgreSQL queries up to 18x faster, DuckDB cold queries 27x faster
- NVMe/TCP outperforms iSCSI: 35% higher IOPS, 25% lower latency, 20% higher throughput
- Technology built on SPDK (Storage Performance Development Kit)
- Serverless Postgres extension: Vela (https://vela.simplyblock.io)
- Industry: Enterprise cloud-native software-defined storage / Infrastructure software

## Contact

- Website: https://simplyblock.io
- Schedule a meeting: https://calendar.simplyblock.io/rob/simplyblock-demo
- Documentation: https://docs.simplyblock.io/latest/
- Contact form: https://simplyblock.io/contact/