Block Storage vs. File Storage

Summary

In this informative video, Amy Blea from IBM Cloud's offering team explains the fundamentals of block and file storage. She outlines the key characteristics of each, such as block storage's low latency and high performance, ideal for applications requiring AI ops, and its inherent redundancy. File storage, on the other hand, is highlighted for its scalability and accessibility for multiple simultaneous users, making it suitable for mixed data types like web hosting. Amy provides guidance on choosing the right storage type based on specific application needs, emphasizing the continued relevance of these traditional storage solutions in both on-premise and cloud environments.

Takeaways

• 🗄 Block Storage: Data is written in raw blocks and accessed via a storage area network, offering the lowest possible latency for applications.
• 🔄 High Redundancy: Block storage typically has built-in redundancy, ensuring data recovery in case of hardware failure without application impact.
• 🚀 Performance: Block storage is ideal for applications requiring high performance and many I/O operations, such as AI applications.
• 📚 File Storage: Accessed over the same network by multiple servers, file storage is scalable and supports multiple simultaneous reads and writes.
• 🔄 Scalability: File storage allows for multiple file shares on a network, accessible by all attached servers, enhancing data accessibility.
• 🔒 Data Integrity: File storage ensures that simultaneous access by multiple users does not lead to data being overwritten.
• 🛠️ Use Case for Block Storage: Suitable for VMware configurations needing boot volumes and workloads like transactional or relational databases that demand low latency and high performance.
• 🌐 Use Case for File Storage: Best for environments with mixed structured and unstructured data, such as web hosting servers, and collaborative spaces requiring simultaneous access.
• 🛑 Data Recovery: Block storage's redundancy feature allows for data recovery in the event of a disk failure, maintaining application continuity.
• 🔑 Choosing Storage: The decision between block and file storage should be based on the specific needs of the application, such as performance requirements and data access patterns.
• 🌟 Relevance: Despite the emergence of new storage services, traditional block and file storage remain relevant and useful for various workloads, both on-premise and in the cloud.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Amy Blea's video?

The main topic of Amy Blea's video is to provide an overview of traditional types of storage, specifically file and block storage, and to offer guidance on when to use one over the other.

What is block storage and how is it accessed by servers?

Block storage is a type of storage where data is written in raw blocks and is accessed by servers through a storage area network (SAN). Servers connect to the storage via this network, which can be on the same network or a different one.

What are some advantages of using block storage?

Block storage offers the lowest possible latency for applications, making it suitable for high-performance applications or those requiring many I/O operations. It is also highly redundant, with built-in capabilities to ensure data is not lost if a volume or disk fails.

How does file storage differ from block storage in terms of connectivity?

File storage is connected differently than block storage. It is network-attached storage, meaning all files are on the same network and can be accessed by any server on that network, allowing for multiple simultaneous reads and writes.

What makes file storage highly scalable?

File storage is highly scalable because it allows for multiple file shares on a network, with all servers attached to it at the same time, accommodating a large volume of data and access points.

When should one choose block storage over file storage?

One should choose block storage for applications that require very low latency and high performance, such as VMware configurations with boot volumes or transactional databases.

In what scenarios would file storage be the preferred choice?

File storage is preferred when dealing with a mix of structured and unstructured data, such as a web hosting server with text and media files, or in collaborative spaces where multiple users need to access and modify data simultaneously.

What is the significance of redundancy in block storage?

Redundancy in block storage ensures that data is replicated across the volume, allowing for data recovery from another location in case of a volume or disk failure, without impacting the application.

How does Amy Blea describe the relevance of traditional storage types in the current market?

Amy Blea emphasizes that despite the emergence of new storage services, traditional storage types like block and file storage remain relevant and useful for different types of workloads, whether on-premise or in the cloud.

What are the key factors to consider when deciding between block and file storage for an application?

The key factors to consider include the specific use case of the application, the performance requirements, the type of data being handled (structured, unstructured, or a mix), and the need for simultaneous access and modification by multiple users.

What does Amy Blea suggest for viewers who have questions or want to see more videos on this topic?

Amy Blea encourages viewers to leave comments with questions, comments, or ideas for other videos, and to subscribe if they would like to see more content like this in the future.

Outlines

00:00

💾 Introduction to Storage Options

Amy Blea from IBM Cloud's offering team introduces the topic of traditional storage options, specifically focusing on file and block storage. She aims to provide an overview of these storage types and offer guidance on when to use each, based on their unique characteristics and performance capabilities.

🔌 Block Storage: Low Latency and High Performance

Block storage is described as a storage method where data is written in raw blocks and accessed via a storage area network (SAN). It offers the lowest latency, making it ideal for applications requiring high performance and AI operations. The redundancy feature of block storage ensures data protection in case of hardware failure, allowing for data recovery without application disruption.

📁 File Storage: Scalability and Accessibility

File storage is presented as a highly scalable and accessible storage option, connected via a network and allowing multiple servers to access the same file share simultaneously. It supports multiple simultaneous reads and writes, ensuring data integrity without overwriting. The paragraph highlights the suitability of file storage for environments with a mix of structured and unstructured data, such as web hosting servers.

🛠️ Choosing the Right Storage for Your Application

The script provides criteria for choosing between block and file storage based on the application's needs. Block storage is recommended for VMware configurations with multiple virtual servers requiring boot volumes, transactional databases needing low latency and high performance, and other similar workloads. File storage is suggested for scenarios involving a mix of data types and collaborative environments where multiple users need simultaneous access for reading and writing.

🌟 Traditional Storage Relevance in Modern Times

Amy concludes by emphasizing the continued relevance and utility of traditional block and file storage despite the emergence of newer storage services. She acknowledges their importance for various workloads, whether on-premise or in the cloud, and invites viewers to engage with the content by asking questions, commenting, or suggesting topics for future videos.

Keywords

💡Block Storage

Block storage is a type of storage where data is stored in raw blocks and accessed via a storage area network (SAN). It is characterized by low latency, making it ideal for applications requiring high performance. In the video, Amy Blea explains that block storage is suitable for applications that need the lowest possible latency and AI ops, such as VMware configurations and transactional databases.

💡File Storage

File storage, also known as network-attached storage (NAS), allows multiple servers to access files over the same network. It is highly scalable and supports multiple simultaneous reads and writes without data overwriting. The script mentions that file storage is appropriate for scenarios involving a mix of structured and unstructured data, such as web hosting servers, and collaborative spaces where multiple users need to access and modify data concurrently.

💡Storage Area Network (SAN)

A Storage Area Network is a high-speed network that provides access to block storage. It allows servers to connect and access data stored in block storage devices. In the context of the video, SAN is used to describe how block storage is accessed by servers, emphasizing the connectivity and performance aspects of block storage systems.

💡Latency

Latency refers to the delay before a transfer of data begins following an instruction for its transfer. In the video, Amy Blea highlights the importance of low latency for block storage, as it is crucial for applications that require rapid data access and processing, such as high-performance computing and AI operations.

💡Redundancy

Redundancy in storage systems means having backup copies of data to prevent data loss in case of hardware failure. The script explains that block storage services generally provide built-in redundancy, ensuring that data can be recovered if a volume or disk fails, thus maintaining the integrity and availability of the data.

💡IOPS

IOPS stands for Input/Output Operations Per Second and is a measure of how many read and write operations a storage device can perform in a second. The video mentions that block storage is suitable for applications requiring high IOPS, indicating its capability to handle a large number of operations simultaneously, which is essential for performance-intensive applications.

💡Transactional Databases

Transactional databases are designed to handle transactions, which are sequences of operations performed as a single unit. The video script uses transactional databases as an example of workloads that benefit from the low latency and high performance provided by block storage.

💡Structured Data

Structured data refers to data that is organized in a specific format or schema, such as data in relational databases. The script contrasts structured data with unstructured data and suggests that file storage is a good choice when dealing with a mix of both, as it can handle multiple simultaneous accesses and modifications.

💡Unstructured Data

Unstructured data is data that does not have a pre-defined format or schema, such as text files, images, and videos. The video mentions that file storage is suitable for environments where both structured and unstructured data are used, such as web hosting servers.

💡Collaborative Space

A collaborative space refers to an environment where multiple users can work together on the same data or project. The script suggests that file storage is appropriate for such spaces because it allows for multiple users to read from and write to the same file share simultaneously without conflicts.

💡On-Premise

On-premise refers to a deployment model where the infrastructure and software are located physically at the user's own premises, as opposed to in the cloud. The video script mentions that both block and file storage are relevant for on-premise deployments, indicating their versatility across different deployment scenarios.

Highlights

Introduction to traditional storage types: file and block storage.

Block storage is accessed via a storage area network, offering low latency for applications.

Block storage is suitable for high-performance applications and AI operations.

Data redundancy in block storage ensures data recovery without application impact.

File storage is network-attached and highly scalable, accessible to multiple servers.

File storage supports multiple simultaneous reads and writes without data overwriting concerns.

Choosing block storage for VMware configurations with multiple virtual servers.

Block storage is ideal for transactional and relational databases requiring low latency and high performance.

File storage is preferred for mixed structured and unstructured data scenarios, such as web hosting.

File storage is beneficial for collaborative environments with multiple users accessing simultaneously.

Traditional storage types remain relevant for various workloads, both on-premise and in the cloud.

The importance of understanding the purpose of storage to make an informed decision between block and file storage.

Block and file storage are foundational and continue to be important despite new storage services in the market.

Invitation for questions, comments, and suggestions for future video topics in the comments section.

Encouragement to subscribe for more informative videos on storage and related topics.

Transcripts

hey guys my name is Amy Blea on the offering team here with IBM cloud and

today I want to talk to you about some traditional types of storage file and

block storage kind of give you an overview of what they are and then give

you some tips on how to decide when to use one over the other so let's get

started with block storage block storage is storage where data is written and raw

blocks on the storage and it's accessed by the servers that you have through a

storage area network so you have all of your servers they can either be on the

same network with each other and a different network but they all connect

through the storage through this storage area network now some of the advantages

of using block storage is that block storage provides the lowest possible

latency for your applications and you can also use it for those applications

that require high performance or lots of AI ops another thing you'll find with

block storage is that in general it is highly redundant most block storage

services provide a capability that's built-in where your data is redundant

across the volume so that if so there should be either a volume should go down

or a disk should go away and you can recover your data from another place

without having any kind of impact to your application now file storage is

connected to your service a little differently than block storages

everything is connected on the same network so you have all of your files or

your file share here those are all files and they can all be accessed on the same

network by any of the servers on that network so it's network attached storage

file storage is highly scalable so you can have a multiple file shares on your

network and have all of your servers attached to that at one time it's

accessible to multiple runtime so here in this illustration we have a single

file share that has multiple servers accessing it all at once and you can

also have multiple simultaneous reads and writes going to

your file share all at one time without having to worry about your data being

overwritten so how do you know when is the right time to choose either block

storage or file storage for your application

well first of all you need to think about what you're using it for so for

example let's say you have a VMware configuration where you have multiple

virtual servers with VMware on them and you need boot volumes well in that case

you would use block storage if you have workloads such as transactional

databases or relational databases that require very low latency and high

performance you would choose block storage in situations where you have a

mix of structured and unstructured data for example a web hosting server where

you have both you know text files as well as media files then you would

choose file storage and then if you have a collaborative space where you need to

have multiple users accessing it all at one time working together doing you know

reads and writes all at the same time you would choose a file storage so like

I mentioned in the beginning block and file storage are very traditional types

of storage they're not as flashy and sunshiny and exciting as some of the new

storage services that have entered the market but they are still very relevant

and useful for the different types of workloads that you have whether it's on

premise or in the cloud thanks for checking out this video and the

differences between file and block storage with me today and if you have

any questions or comments or ideas for other videos just put something in the

comments below and then if you'd like to see more videos like this in the future

subscribe