AWS Storage Gateway is a hybrid cloud storage service that connects on-premises environments with AWS cloud storage. It enables organizations to seamlessly integrate their existing infrastructure with AWS storage services, providing a bridge between local data centers and the cloud.
There are thre…AWS Storage Gateway is a hybrid cloud storage service that connects on-premises environments with AWS cloud storage. It enables organizations to seamlessly integrate their existing infrastructure with AWS storage services, providing a bridge between local data centers and the cloud.
There are three main types of Storage Gateway:
1. **S3 File Gateway**: This type allows you to store and retrieve objects in Amazon S3 using file protocols like NFS and SMB. Local applications can access cloud storage as if it were a local file share, with frequently accessed data cached locally for low-latency access.
2. **FSx File Gateway**: This provides optimized local access to fully managed Windows file shares in Amazon FSx for Windows File Server. It's ideal for organizations requiring Windows-native file system features.
3. **Volume Gateway**: This presents cloud-backed iSCSI block storage volumes to your on-premises applications. It offers two modes - Cached Volumes (primary data in S3 with cached copies locally) and Stored Volumes (primary data stored locally with asynchronous backups to S3).
4. **Tape Gateway**: This provides a virtual tape library (VTL) interface, allowing backup applications to store data on virtual tape cartridges in S3 and archive to S3 Glacier for long-term retention.
Key benefits of AWS Storage Gateway include:
- **Cost Optimization**: Reduces on-premises storage infrastructure costs
- **Data Protection**: Integrates with AWS backup and disaster recovery solutions
- **Low Latency**: Caches frequently accessed data locally
- **Seamless Integration**: Works with existing applications and workflows
- **Scalability**: Leverages virtually unlimited cloud storage capacity
Storage Gateway is deployed as a virtual machine or hardware appliance in your data center and handles data transfer, compression, encryption, and bandwidth management between your location and AWS storage services.
AWS Storage Gateway - Complete Guide
What is AWS Storage Gateway?
AWS Storage Gateway is a hybrid cloud storage service that connects on-premises environments with AWS cloud storage. It provides seamless integration between your local data center and AWS storage services like Amazon S3, S3 Glacier, and EBS.
Why is AWS Storage Gateway Important?
Organizations often need to: • Extend on-premises storage to the cloud • Backup and archive data cost-effectively • Migrate data to AWS gradually • Reduce on-premises storage infrastructure costs • Access cloud storage with low latency using local caching
Storage Gateway solves these challenges by acting as a bridge between your local environment and AWS cloud storage.
How AWS Storage Gateway Works
Storage Gateway is deployed as a virtual machine or hardware appliance in your on-premises data center. It presents storage interfaces (file, volume, or tape) to your applications while storing data in AWS cloud storage behind the scenes.
Three Types of Storage Gateway:
1. File Gateway (S3 File Gateway) • Presents a file interface using NFS or SMB protocols • Files are stored as objects in Amazon S3 • Local cache provides low-latency access to frequently used data • Ideal for file shares, content distribution, and data lakes
2. Volume Gateway • Presents block storage using iSCSI protocol • Two modes available: - Cached Volumes: Primary data in S3, frequently accessed data cached locally - Stored Volumes: Primary data stored locally, asynchronously backed up to S3 as EBS snapshots • Ideal for backup, disaster recovery, and migration
3. Tape Gateway • Presents a virtual tape library (VTL) interface • Virtual tapes are stored in S3 and archived to S3 Glacier or S3 Glacier Deep Archive • Works with existing backup software • Ideal for replacing physical tape infrastructure
Key Features: • Local caching for low-latency access • Data encryption in transit and at rest • Bandwidth throttling and scheduling • Integration with AWS backup and monitoring services • High availability configurations available
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on AWS Storage Gateway
Tip 1: Match the Gateway Type to the Use Case • File shares or NFS/SMB access = File Gateway • Block storage or iSCSI requirements = Volume Gateway • Tape backup replacement = Tape Gateway
Tip 2: Understand Cached vs Stored Volumes • Need to minimize on-premises storage = Cached Volumes • Need full dataset available locally = Stored Volumes • Both create EBS snapshots for backup
Tip 3: Remember the Backend Storage • File Gateway stores data in S3 • Volume Gateway creates EBS snapshots stored in S3 • Tape Gateway uses S3 and S3 Glacier
Tip 4: Hybrid Cloud Scenarios • When questions mention connecting on-premises to AWS storage, think Storage Gateway • Questions about extending data center storage to the cloud often point to this service
Common Exam Scenarios: • A company wants to backup on-premises data to AWS = Storage Gateway • An organization needs to replace aging tape infrastructure = Tape Gateway • A business requires low-latency access to cloud-stored files = File Gateway with local cache • A firm wants block storage with cloud backup = Volume Gateway