In today's "Weekly StarlingX non-OpenStack Distro" [0] there was a requirement for our validation activities around CEPH so we need your help to learn more about the specific hardware. StarlingX allows a flexible storage options: 1. Linux Logical Volume Manager 2. CEPH 3. External SAN [ CEPH : StarlingX Dedicated Storage ] StarlingX system can be configured as Ceph-backend storage (Controller) and have available N number of Compute and Storage hosts, today we are deploying this as a "Dedicated Storage" configuration [1] : - 2 Controller Nodes - 2 Compute Nodes - 2 Storage Nodes [ CEPH : Homepage Documentation ] Looking at the Hardware Recommendations from CEPH Documentation, they list N number of components including requirements for CPU, RAM and a bunch of storage devices (Hard Disks, SSDs) [2] StarlingX provides this provisioning automatically if "Dedicated Storage" is configuration chosen. [CEPH : Specific Hardware ] Can you please guide us on what does that specific need makes it unique? Is it a hardware? Is it a configuration? Is the mix of both? 1. Is StarlingX "Dedicated Storage" configuration one of the 2 possible CEPH based testing options? 2. Do we need a separate CEPH cluster provisioned including their own OSDs and monitors? 3. Any other? We would appreciate any link to information and architecture to learn more about this request. [0] https://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/StarlingX/Distro [1] https://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/StarlingX/Installation_Guide_Virtual_Environ... [2] http://docs.ceph.com/docs/jewel/start/hardware-recommendations/