AWS Storage Gateway - Complete Guide for AWS Solutions Architect Professional
Why AWS Storage Gateway is Important
AWS Storage Gateway is a critical hybrid cloud storage service that bridges on-premises environments with AWS cloud storage. For the Solutions Architect Professional exam, understanding Storage Gateway is essential because it addresses real-world scenarios where organizations need to integrate existing infrastructure with cloud storage without disrupting operations. It enables seamless data migration, backup, disaster recovery, and tiered storage solutions.
What is AWS Storage Gateway?
AWS Storage Gateway is a hybrid cloud storage service that provides on-premises applications with access to virtually unlimited cloud storage. It connects on-premises software appliances with cloud-based storage through standard storage protocols like NFS, SMB, and iSCSI.
Types of Storage Gateway:
1. S3 File Gateway (File Gateway)
- Stores files as objects in Amazon S3
- Supports NFS and SMB protocols
- Local cache for low-latency access to frequently accessed data
- Ideal for file shares, content distribution, and data lakes
2. FSx File Gateway
- Provides low-latency access to fully managed Windows file shares in Amazon FSx for Windows File Server
- Uses SMB protocol
- Suitable for Windows-based applications requiring shared file storage
3. Volume Gateway
- Presents cloud-backed iSCSI block storage volumes
- Two modes:
• Cached Volumes: Primary data stored in S3, frequently accessed data cached locally
• Stored Volumes: Primary data stored locally, asynchronously backed up to S3 as EBS snapshots
- Best for backup, disaster recovery, and migration scenarios
4. Tape Gateway
- Virtual tape library (VTL) backed by S3 and S3 Glacier
- Compatible with existing backup software
- Cost-effective replacement for physical tape infrastructure
How AWS Storage Gateway Works
1. Deployment: Deploy the gateway as a virtual machine on-premises (VMware, Hyper-V, KVM) or as a hardware appliance, or in AWS as an EC2 instance
2. Configuration: Connect the gateway to your AWS account and configure the storage type
3. Data Transfer: Applications use standard protocols to read and write data through the gateway
4. Local Caching: Frequently accessed data is cached locally for low-latency access
5. Cloud Storage: Data is securely transferred and stored in AWS (S3, S3 Glacier, or FSx)
6. Encryption: Data is encrypted in transit (SSL/TLS) and at rest (SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS)
Key Features and Capabilities:
- Bandwidth Management: Schedule and throttle bandwidth usage
- Integration with AWS Services: Works with CloudWatch, IAM, KMS, and CloudTrail
- High Availability: Supports VMware HA for on-premises deployments
- Refresh Cache: File Gateway can refresh cache to see objects added by other processes
Common Use Cases:
- Hybrid cloud storage architecture
- Backup and archive to cloud
- Disaster recovery solutions
- Tiered storage strategies
- Migration of on-premises data to AWS
- Replacing physical tape libraries
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on AWS Storage Gateway
1. Identify the Protocol Requirements:
- NFS or SMB file access → File Gateway or FSx File Gateway
- iSCSI block storage → Volume Gateway
- Tape backup integration → Tape Gateway
2. Consider Data Location Priorities:
- If low-latency access to ALL data is required → Stored Volumes
- If minimizing on-premises storage footprint is priority → Cached Volumes
- If replacing tape infrastructure → Tape Gateway
3. Recognize Hybrid Scenarios:
- Questions mentioning existing on-premises infrastructure needing cloud integration often point to Storage Gateway
- Look for keywords like 'hybrid,' 'on-premises,' 'existing backup software,' or 'seamless integration'
4. Understand Cost Optimization:
- Tape Gateway with S3 Glacier for long-term archival is cost-effective
- File Gateway lifecycle policies can move data to cheaper storage tiers
5. Remember Bandwidth Considerations:
- Storage Gateway supports bandwidth throttling for WAN optimization
- Initial data transfer may require AWS Snowball for large datasets
6. Security Aspects:
- All data encrypted in transit and at rest by default
- Integration with AWS KMS for customer-managed keys
- Active Directory integration for SMB file shares
7. Common Exam Traps:
- Do not confuse S3 File Gateway with FSx File Gateway - S3 stores as objects, FSx provides Windows file server access
- Cached vs Stored Volumes - remember the primary storage location difference
- Tape Gateway uses S3 and Glacier, not EBS
8. Performance Considerations:
- Local cache size affects performance - larger cache improves read performance
- Multiple gateways can be deployed for scaling
- Hardware appliance option provides guaranteed performance
Quick Reference for Exam:
| Scenario | Gateway Type |
|----------|--------------|
| File shares accessible via NFS/SMB | S3 File Gateway |
| Windows file server in cloud | FSx File Gateway |
| Block storage with most data in cloud | Cached Volumes |
| Block storage with all data local | Stored Volumes |
| Replace tape backup infrastructure | Tape Gateway |