"Cloud storage Gateway"--cloud storage application becomes simpler

With this article, you can learn that cloud storage gateways can help users migrate their applications to cloud storage service platforms and cloud storage systems more easily. Through gateways, cloud storage systems look like traditional storage applications and can be modeled as NAS file servers, block storage arrays, intelligent backup destinations, and even an extension of the application itself. You will also learn about some of the high value-added technical features that vendors offer to users in their cloud storage gateway offerings.

The primary application of cloud storage is the long-term archiving of data and the low cost of saving unimportant data. Therefore, whether it is a shared cloud or a private cloud, it is evolving into a part of the enterprise IT framework. However, traditional applications may not have direct access to the common interfaces of cloud storage services or cloud storage systems, because for traditional applications, the common interface of cloud storage systems is a new technical standard, it is too special. Thus, a new application, cloud storage gateway, is introduced, which simplifies the access of cloud storage and transforms special interfaces into ways that traditional applications can access.

What's wrong with the cloud storage system?

One important difference between the next generation of cloud storage technology and traditional storage systems is that many cloud storage systems use API based access interfaces. Unlike traditional SAN or NAS protocols, most public cloud providers use internet-based access protocols, such as the rest API based on HTTP. This interface is useful for today's program developers, but it is completely incompatible with traditional applications.

Even with traditional storage protocols, common cloud storage systems are designed to be scalable rather than purely performance-oriented. Unless your technical architecture has the greatest flexibility, this remote service technology will inevitably face network latency problems. This means that, regardless of which interface form is used, the cloud storage gateway can bring application value, even a basic application requirements.

Another issue to consider is the unique security model for cloud storage services. Traditional block storage access typically has security controls over partitions, such as LUN masking technology, which restricts the access of the server's HBA card to the storage volume. File system access control is based on user, user group, and directory tree permissions. In the cloud storage environment, a completely different security mechanism is used, a kind of access control model based on tenant, storage pool and object. This security mechanism is completely different from the traditional system, but it may be more flexible.

Cloud Storage Gateway Vendors Camp

Recently, many cloud storage gateway products have appeared in the market. Their main function is to convert the dedicated cloud storage interface to traditional storage access protocol so that users can use cloud storage services more easily. Such products focus on the connection between applications and data storage. With gateways, we can use cloud storage resources like NAS file systems, block storage arrays, smart backup targets, or even an extension part of the application itself.

Asigra Company. Asigra's product is an integrated backup solution for public and private cloud storage services that can be used for local or remote service platforms.

Cirtas BAE Company. Cirtas's products Bluejet cloud storage controllers, allowing users to access remote public cloud storage resources just as they would with a local disk array.

Nasuni Company. The Nasuni product is a virtual file system (appliance) with features such as snapshots, cache acceleration, and encryption.

Storsimple Company. The Storsimple product is a storage device with cache acceleration, automatic compact configuration, data deduplication, encryption, and wide area network acceleration, primarily for SharePoint applications.

Twinstrata Company. Twinstrata's product Cloudarray is a data protection and disaster-tolerant device integrated with the public cloud storage.

Other companies. Like CommVault Technologies and Symantec, their products integrate the cloud storage access interface, using the cloud storage platform as a backup target, just like tape and disk.

The company's products mentioned above have one thing in common, that is, in addition to allowing users to access remote cloud storage resources through the local appliance, vendors claim that their products have additional value, including: encryption technology to ensure the security of remote data storage, as well as compression, data de-duplication, and WAN acceleration optimization functions. Many products also use cloud storage System scalability advantages to provide features such as snapshots, versioning, and data protection. At the same time, almost all products use themselves as local cache acceleration devices to increase the access speed of cloud storage.

Is cloud storage just a cheap data storage platform?

Although we see cloud storage being integrated into the enterprise's storage architecture and becoming a level of data tiered storage by using gateway devices, cloud storage is far more than a low-cost tier. Because each gateway appliance shows the unique capabilities of the cloud storage system, these new features are not available in traditional storage. Each of the companies involved is exploring the new path, and it is far more meaningful for them to develop new storage application patterns than to provide low-cost data storage platforms.