AWS Storage Gateway's Gradual Adoption and Seamless On-Premises Infrastructure Integration"
AWS Storage Gateway is a 'hybrid cloud' storage service provided by AWS Web Services that enables on-premises applications to seamlessly integrate with cloud-based storage(bridge between on-premises data and cloud data). This integration is particularly beneficial for scenarios involving extended cloud migrations, security requirements, compliance requirements or alignment with specific IT strategy.
Use cases Storage Gateway:
disaster recovery
backup & restore
tiered storage
on-premises cache & low-latency files access
Types of Storage Gateway:
S3 File Gateway
FSx File Gateway
Volume Gateway
Tape Gateway
Amazon S3 File Gateway:
AWS S3 File Gateway is a component of AWS Storage Gateway that allows on-premises applications to access and use Amazon S3 cloud storage as if it were a file system. It seamlessly integrates with existing on-premises file servers and applications, providing a scalable, durable, and cost-effective storage solution in the cloud:
Configured S3 buckets are accessible using the NFS and SMB protocol
Most recently used data is cached in the file gateway
Supports S3 Standard, S3 Standard IA, S3 One Zone A, S3 Intelligent Tiering
Transition to S3 Glacier using a LifeCycle Policy
Bucket access using IAM role for each File Gateway
SMB Protocal has integration with Active Directory (AD) for user authentication
Amazon FSx File Gateway:
Native access to Amazon FSx for Windows File Server
Local cache for frequently accessed data
Windows native compatibility (SMB,NTFS,Active Directory....)
Useful for group file shares and home directories
Volume Gateway:
Block storage using iSCSI protocol backed by S3
Backed by EBS snapshots which can help restore on-premises volumes!
Cached Volumes: low latency access to most recent data
Stored volumes: entire dataset is on premise, scheduled backups to S3
Tape Gateway:
Some companies have backup processes using physical tapes(!)
With Tape Gateway, companies use the same processes but, in the cloud
Virtual Tape Library (VTL) backed by Amazon S3 and Glacier
Back up data using existing tape-based processes(and iSCSI interface)
Works with leading backup software vendors
Storage Gateway - Hardware appliance
Using Storage Gateway means you need on-premises virtualisation. Other wise you can use a Storage Gateway Hardware Appliance. You can buy it on amazon.com. Storage Gateway works with File Gateway, Volume Gateway, Tape Gateway. It has the required CPU, memory, network, SSD cache resources. Storage Gateway also helpful for daily NFS backups in small data centres.
Storage Gateway -Advanced Concepts:
File Architectures: Other possibilities
Amazon S3 Object Versioning
Ability to store multiple object versions as they are modified
Helpful to restore a file to a previous version
Could restore an entire file system to a previous version
Must use the " RefreshCache" API on the Gateway to be notified of restore
Amazon S3 Object Lock
Enables to have the file Gateway for Write Once Read Many (WORM) data
If there are file modifications or renames in the file share clients, the file gateway creates a new version of the object without affecting priori versions, and the original locked version will remain unchanged
In conclusion, we can say that AWS Storage Gateway as a pivotal solution in facilitating the seamless integration of on-premises infrastructure with cloud storage, exemplifying its adaptability and scalability. With its ongoing evolution, AWS Storage Gateway remains a crucial component for businesses navigating the dynamic landscape of hybrid cloud storage integration. I hope that this blog has helped you gain a better understanding of AWS Storage Gateway, a vital tool in seamlessly connecting on-premises systems with cloud storage. 🔦