Types of Storage

Object storage

Object storage is a data storage architecture that manages and organizes data as objects. Object storage does not organize data hierarchically with folders and directories. Instead, it employs a flat address space, making each object uniquely identifiable through a key or URL.

Objects are typically stored in a container-like structure, such as a bucket. We can toss anything from a JSON object to a confidential .xsl file inside a bucket. This means that the data does not need to be structured. However, to maintain a record, each object in this storage model consists of data, metadata, and a unique identifier.

Object storage has a great potential in terms of scalability. We can store billions of objects in a bucket if it stretches enough, making it an affordable consumption model. In addition to this, object storage simplifies data retrieval by assigning each object a unique URL. Therefore, to access an object, we do need to browse through the bucket or navigate through the paths to get the data.

However, there is a downside to object storage as well. It does not allow us to modify the object's data once uploaded. Also, retrieving objects, though simple, is a bit slower than other storage options because of the overhead associated with the metadata for each object.

Object storage is commonly used to store or archive unstructured data. Enterprises switch to object storage to enhance collaboration and backup data. It is also used in cloud-native applications that need quick, scalable, and economical solutions.

Block storage

Block storage manages data in fixed-sized blocks, each identified by a unique address or block number. We can think of each block as a hard disk that can be configured to function as part of a file system.

To write the data, we divide it into multiple blocks. This means if we are storing a file, it's content will be divided into multiple blocks and will be stored in nonsequential blocks. These blocks do not have any associated metadata with them. However, the block's identifier is stored in a lookup table. When we read this data, we look for the blocks in a lookup table that combine to form the original content.

Block storage is commonly used in virtual machines (VMs). Each virtual machine (VM) is provisioned with its own dedicated block storage device, which is used for both its operating system and data storage. Block storage has a high retrieval rate and low latency. Thus, block storage is well-suited for database systems where data needs to be rapidly read and written at the block level. It is also used in big data analytics platforms where massive datasets are processed and analyzed. Tools like Apache Hadoop and Spark leverage block storage for efficient data handling.

File storage

File storage is a type of data storage that organizes and stores data in a hierarchical structure using directories and files. It is designed for storing and managing files in a way that allows easy navigation and retrieval.

File storage is the most familiar type of storage for users. It also allows to lock, share and manage access rights of a file at the user level.

File storage provides the ease of integration with existing applications. Thus, most web and cloud-based applications stick to file storage. Also, it is easier to collaborate with file storage due to its user-friendly structure.

Use case examples

Object, block, and file storage each have distinct advantages and limitations. Let's explore which type of storage is most suitable for specific scenarios.

Use case: Backup and recovery

Consider a use case where a large enterprise needs to ensure the safety and availability of essential data. This includes sensitive documents, databases, configuration files, and other business-critical information.

To implement a robust backup and recovery strategy, object storage would be an ideal solution due to multiple reasons:

• The data is unstructured, as there are multiple types of files in multiple formats.

• The backup files are ever-scaling. We can compromise on the latency, but we need an economical solution that scales exponentially.

Use case: Relational Database System

Consider another scenario where a company relies heavily on a high-performance relational database to support its mission-critical applications. The company's database handles many transactions and demands optimal performance, scalability, and reliability.

Block storage suits this use case for the following reasons:

• The relational database requires dedicated and performant storage for storing data files, transaction logs, and indexes. Block storage provides the necessary performance characteristics required by the database. It has a low latency, which is ideal for I/O-intensive operations due to frequent read and write operations.

• As the database scales, block storage provides the flexibility to resize volumes and adapt to changing storage requirements without disrupting the database operations.

Use case: Shared file system

Imagine another scenario where an enterprise is developing a collaborative document-sharing platform, similar to a cloud-based file-sharing service, where multiple users can create, edit, and share documents in real-time.

To manage multiple files, a file system would be the ideal solution. The file system can be mounted to multiple devices, allowing collaboration between multiple users.

Summary

Object storage, with its ability to manage unstructured data like images and videos at scale, is ideal for scenarios such as media storage and content distribution. Block storage, known for high-performance access to raw storage, is well-suited for applications like databases and virtual machines where frequent read and write operations are critical. File storage, organized in a hierarchical structure, excels in scenarios requiring shared access, making it suitable for collaborative document editing or content management systems. The selection among these storage types depends on specific use case requirements, balancing factors like scalability, performance, and data organization.