Cloud block storage (CBS) is a revolutionary new way for next-generation cloud servers to access vast amounts of storage space along with full hard drive capabilities. Unfortunately, there’s a shortage of information on the Internet explaining what CBS is and the advantages it offers over other cloud storage methods. This article will fill in that gap.
Imagine your home computer. As you know, all of the information on it is stored on the hard drive. As you load it with pictures, text files and cat videos, it begins to fill up, until it can’t hold any additional data. At that point, most consumers will buy a new hard drive for their current PC to provide greater storage capacity.
IT departments face similar dilemmas when their servers begin to fill with data. Their traditional solution has been to buy a new server with expanded capacity. However, this solution has a number of drawbacks. These include:
- There are significant up-front costs to acquire the hardware.
- The expenses associated with installing and maintaining the new server are high.
- The unneeded hardware that comes with new servers, such as RAM and other components, that provides no benefit to the company.
In short, buying a new server simply to add storage capacity is like buying a suit when all the purchaser needs is a new tie. It carries with it added purchase, maintenance and storage costs, while contributing little or nothing to the resource needs of the firm.
Cloud block storage solves this dilemma by providing virtual hard drives that next-gen cloud servers can access for additional storage capacity. While this gives those servers additional capacity, it also does far more. Because these drives provide block level storage and not simply file storage, they give users these advantages as well:
- File level access.
- The ability to use both SATA and SSD configurations.
- The ability to back data directly up to cloud files.
- Access to OpenStack resources.
What is OpenStack?
OpenStack is an open source project that allows organizations of all sizes to enjoy the benefits of efficient, cost-effective cloud computing. It enables users to control multiple hypervisors at the same time, irrespective of any OS, software or hardware distinctions among them. This provides a set of benefits all its own, some of which are:
- Nearly infinite scalability. It can scale to thousands of individual nodes, far exceeding the capabilities of other solutions.
- Easy integration of existing authentication systems, thanks to a simple, pluggable authentication function.
- Full open source access due to its Apache 2.0 license.
Cloud block storage offers highly flexible and cost-effective solutions for cloud storage providers, enabling them to manage vast amounts of client data while enjoying the benefits of a fully featured block level storage system. It accomplishes this without the expense and upkeep associated with purchasing new physical servers. For these reasons and more, it’s easy to see why CBS is the new frontier in cloud computing, with unmatched promise and potential for those who access it.