AWS Storage Gateway.

 

AWS Storage Gateway | Overview

AWS Storage Gateway is a hybrid cloud storage service that enables twtech on-premises applications to seamlessly use AWS cloud storage. 

It acts as a bridge between on-premises environments and AWS, allowing twtech to securely integrate cloud storage into its local infrastructure.

 Concept

AWS Storage Gateway provides a software appliance (deployed as a VM or hardware appliance) that connects twtech on-premises environment to AWS storage services such as Amazon S3, Amazon EBS, and Amazon Glacier.

It helps twtech to:

• Backup and archive to AWS.
• Migrate storage workloads.
• Enable hybrid cloud workflows.

 Gateway Types & Use Cases

Gateway Type	Description	Common Use Cases
File Gateway	Stores files as objects in Amazon S3, accessible via NFS/SMB.	Backup, archiving, big data, content storage
Volume Gateway	Presents block storage volumes to apps using iSCSI. Backs up to S3 as snapshots.	Disaster recovery, database storage
Tape Gateway	Emulates a virtual tape library (VTL) using Amazon S3 and Glacier.	Replace physical tape backup infrastructure
FSx File Gateway	provides low-latency	For fast, local access to cloud-based file shares, where on-premises access is crucial due to latency or bandwidth requirements. .

Features

• Caching: Frequently accessed data is stored locally for low-latency access.
• Data Compression & Encryption: In-transit and at-rest data protection using AES-256 and TLS.
• Bandwidth Management: Throttling options to avoid network congestion.
• High Availability: Can be deployed across on-prem clusters with failover.
• Monitoring & Logging: Integrated with CloudWatch, AWS CloudTrail, and AWS Backup.

Benefits

Benefit	Explanation
Hybrid Integration	Seamless access to cloud storage while using on-prem apps.
Cost Savings	Reduces need for physical tape and long-term on-site storage.
Scalability	Virtually unlimited cloud storage capacity.
Security & Compliance	Supports encryption, access control, and compliance audits.
Simplified Backup	Easily integrates with AWS Backup for centralized management.

 Limitations

Limitation	Description
Latency Sensitive Workloads	Cloud-backed storage is not ideal for low-latency transactional workloads.
Dependency on Internet	Gateway requires consistent, reliable network connectivity to AWS.
Cost Considerations	Data transfer and storage usage may incur costs if not monitored.
VM Appliance Management	You must manage the gateway VM or hardware appliance on-prem.

 Typical Architecture Diagram (Text Format)

 # pgsql

On-Prem Applications

       |

  +----+----+

  | Storage |

  | Gateway | <---> AWS Cloud (S3 / EBS / Glacier)

  +----+----+

       |

 Local Cache 

 Getting Started Steps

1. Deploy the Storage Gateway VM or purchase a hardware appliance.
2. Configure the desired gateway type (file, volume, tape).
3. Connect twtech local application or backup software.
4. Integrate with AWS services like Amazon S3, AWS Backup, CloudWatch, etc.
5. Monitor and manage via the AWS Console or CLI.