Understanding AWS Storage Gateway

Introduction

In the evolving landscape of cloud computing, businesses and individuals alike are constantly seeking efficient, secure, and cost-effective solutions for data storage and management. AWS Storage Gateway emerges as a beacon of flexibility and efficiency, offering a hybrid cloud storage service that bridges the gap between on-premises storage systems and the AWS Cloud. This blog post will introduce you to AWS Storage Gateway, its various gateway types, and how it can transform our data storage strategy.

What is AWS Storage Gateway?

AWS Storage Gateway is a hybrid cloud storage service that allows our on-premises applications to use AWS cloud storage seamlessly. It provides a secure connection between our on-premises environment and the AWS Cloud, enabling us to store data in the AWS Cloud, access it with low latency, and reduce operational costs. It supports various storage interfaces and configurations to cater to different use cases, including file storage, volume storage, and tape storage solutions.

Gateway Types Explained

File Gateway

The File Gateway configuration enables us to store and retrieve files in Amazon S3 using file protocols like NFS and SMB. It's ideal for scenarios requiring cloud storage for files accessible by on-premises applications. With local caching, File Gateway offers low-latency access to frequently accessed data, making it perfect for backup, archiving, and serving data over the cloud.

AWS Storage Gateway's File Gateway includes two types: Amazon S3 File Gateway, designed for converting file data into S3 objects, ideal for data lakes, backups, and machine learning projects; and Amazon FSx File Gateway, which offers quick access to Amazon FSx for Windows File Server's managed file shares, fitting for Windows-centric file sharing.

Let us consider a use case of moving NFS-based systems to AWS. S3 File Gateway is recommended because of its seamless integration with Amazon S3, offering NFS-based access with local caching capabilities. Amazon FSx File Gateway cannot serve this purpose effectively as it is specifically tailored to provide low-latency access to Amazon FSx for Windows File Server's managed file shares, focusing on Windows-based environments.

Volume Gateway

Volume Gateway provides block storage to our applications using the iSCSI protocol. It comes in two modes: cached and stored. Cached mode enables us to store our primary data in S3 while retaining frequently accessed data locally. Stored mode, on the other hand, stores our primary data on-premises and asynchronously backs up this data to AWS. It's suitable for disaster recovery and extending your on-premises storage into the cloud.

Tape Gateway

Tape Gateway offers a virtual tape library (VTL) interface that allows us to leverage existing tape-based backup applications to store data on virtual tapes in AWS. This is a cost-effective solution for archiving and long-term data retention in the cloud, eliminating the need for physical tape management and offsite storage facilities.

Use Cases and Benefits

• Data Backup and Archiving: Easily integrate AWS Storage Gateway with our existing backup applications to transition to cloud-based backups without changing our workflows.
• Disaster Recovery: Utilize the cloud for secure, cost-effective disaster recovery solutions.
• Data Migration: Migrate data from on-premises storage systems to the cloud with minimal disruption and high data integrity.
• Hybrid Cloud Workflows: Seamlessly extend our on-premises storage and compute environments to the cloud, enabling hybrid cloud architectures that can scale with our needs.

Conclusion

By integrating AWS Storage Gateway into our data management and storage strategies, we can enjoy the best of both worlds: the scalability, durability, and cost-effectiveness of AWS Cloud storage, alongside the low-latency and application compatibility of on-premises storage systems. Whether we're looking to offload backups to the cloud, implement a disaster recovery plan, or simply extend our storage capacity, AWS Storage Gateway provides a flexible, secure, and efficient solution. In summary, AWS Storage Gateway is a powerful tool in the AWS suite that offers a bridge between on-premises storage systems and the cloud.