Block, File and Object storage protocols.

Object storage has been growing in popularity recently, thanks in large part to the rapid adoption of cloud computing. The fact that a large part of our current data is unstructured has contributed to the growth of object storage. Object storage is easy to scale up, which makes the choice for object storage simple.

The archive, within data storage platforms, is one of the most discussed topics today. It is used as long-term storage for data that is not or hardly used but still needs to be kept, or as a space-saver so that the old can make room for tomorrow's data.

An archive is being used as a repository for raw data, material such as knowledge and calculation formulas that can be used in subsequent applications.

Block storage, implemented with SANs (Storage Area Networks), is the method of storing data in storage volumes called blocks. These characteristic Storage Blocks can in turn each function as a stand-alone hard disk.

Access is achieved via iSCSIFibre, Channel, Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) . Block storage is often used in workloads requiring network-based storage operations where speed is required. Some examples are databases, critical applications, virtual machines, RAID implementations and even file systems. Block storage can also be used to boot an operating system, if so configured. Block storage is popular in IT environments because of its flexibility, but it is relatively expensive and complex compared to the storage technologies discussed below.

Block, ?file storage and the differences.

File storage stores data in files and folders, or directories, usually in network-attached storage (NAS) implementations. This is a typical example of hierarchical operation found in most common file systems, but is also easy to implement and simplifies file management and sharing. Protocols used in this environment include Network File System (NFS), Common Internet File System (CIFS) and Server Message Block (SMB).

An important difference between the various file systems is the use of metadata. Metadata is data that describes the characteristics of certain data. So they are actually data about data. The metadata for a certain document (the data) can be, for example: machine details such as camera settings, the author, the date of writing, the publisher, the number of pages and the language and location in which the data was created and stored.

Rich metadata.

File-level storage uses metadata to arrange files appropriately.?In most cases, this metadata contains the basic characteristics of a file, such as its name, file type and when it was created and last updated.

Block storage lacks this characteristic metadata. Operation systems access data blocks directly based on their unique address, rather than going through folders and file hierarchies. The operating system determines whether the application can track and manage these data blocks. Block and file storage are indeed two very different storage technologies, but they often co-exist in the same enterprise storage system.

Object storage is very different from block storage.

Object storage has been growing in popularity recently, thanks in large part to the rapid adoption of cloud computing. The fact that a large part of our current data is unstructured has contributed to the growth of object storage. Object storage is easy to scale up, which makes the choice for object storage simple.

Archive or Backup.

There a big difference between an Archive and a backup application.

Briefly described, a backup is a copy of data that is made to restore the data in the event of damage or loss. The original data is not deleted after a backup has been made. Within a backup, different data can be stored such as hardware operating systems and financial, customer and other factual data.

An archive is a copy of data that is stored for reference purposes. Or if, for example, governments prescribe certain retention periods. Although it is not necessary, the original is often deleted after an archive has been created. Whereas the purpose of a backup is to restore something to how it looked (usually) yesterday, an archive can serve several purposes. The most common purpose is to help retrieve past data, i.e. previous knowledge or material, where the function of an information or raw material repository is growing. In Broadcast & media environments, CCTV and Healthcare applications complete workflows are entrusted to archive systems.

As the term suggests, object storage involves packing data into objects. These objects, along with their metadata, are stored in a flat structure or address space, rather than in files, folders or as data blocks that can be reassembled into files.

Objects usually consist of files, and possibly bundled metadata, of course. Each object is given a unique identifier, an object ID, which allows each object to be retrieved from a repository or pool of storage, giving companies more flexibility about how and where data is placed.

Object-based storage is also rich in metadata and, in many cases, can be made even richer. Compared to the relatively little metadata used in file-based storage and the scarcity of metadata in block storage, the metadata in object storage can contain much more than some basic information about a file. Organisations can add customised information, providing additional context to support search, analysis, advanced management and other use cases beyond just storing and retrieving data.

All in all, this approach enables massive scalability using distributed architectures along with flexible data protection and management compared to SAN environments.

Block Storage Benefits

Block, file and object storage: Each has its advantages and shortcomings, depending on the types of workloads your organisation runs.

Here are some reasons why block storage may make sense in your IT environment:

Block storage offers low latency with consistent and predictable performance.

Easy management of access and control privileges.

Each storage volume in a block storage array can be used by a remote server as an independent disk drive.

Remote servers can boot from block storage.

But there are certainly disadvantages. These include the aforementioned lack of metadata and the complexity and cost of implementing SANs, which often require specialised personnel to maintain and optimise the systems.

Where to use block storage.

Databases: Fast, reliable performance and easy management of database storage make block storage the technology of choice.

Enterprise applications: Like databases, block storage helps ensure that many large and transaction-based enterprise applications don't keep their users waiting.

Virtualization: VMware customers can use block storage for their file systems for virtual machines.

Mail servers: Are you running Exchange? Microsoft's email server explicitly requires block storage and does not support NAS file systems.

RAID: Block storage allows organisations to configure individual drives in a RAID array for data redundancy and improved performance.The flexibility and performance features of block-level storage make the technology particularly well suited for enterprise-grade applications and workloads.All major enterprise storage vendors offer SAN products, and therefore block storage solutions

More and more vendors are also making the move to object storage and are offering the service in-house or together with a partner. Cooperation between hardware and software partners is increasingly becoming a reality.