Up until recently, BlueXP backup and recovery supported storing ONTAP backup data to four destinations, including AWS S3, Azure Blob, GCP Cloud Storage, and NetApp StorageGRID®. In this release, we're excited to introduce ONTAP S3 as a new storage destination for ONTAP backup data. Designed to integrate seamlessly with your existing ONTAP environment, ONTAP S3 serves as a powerful on-premises object storage solution for users of the Cloud Backup service.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of ONTAP S3, examine its unique use cases as an ONTAP backup destination, and discuss how it extends ONTAP’s data management capabilities to backed up data.
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With the growing demand for S3-compatible storage, ONTAP extended its support to include an additional scale-out storage option for S3. Capitalizing on ONTAP's robust data management framework, ONTAP S3 provides S3-compatible object storage capabilities, allowing data to be represented as objects within ONTAP-powered systems, including AFF, FAS, and ONTAP Select.
ONTAP S3 complements NetApp's flagship object storage solution, StorageGRID, by providing an ingest and preprocessing point at the edge. While ONTAP S3 is a virtual object storage capability within the ONTAP ecosystem, StorageGRID is a dedicated appliance for object storage. By leveraging ONTAP S3, you can utilize the existing ONTAP appliance capacity without requiring additional hardware or cloud storage buckets. In contrast, StorageGRID is tailored for large-scale, multi-site deployments and long-term data retention, requiring a dedicated appliance.
Integrating ONTAP S3 as a new on-premises backup destination for BlueXP backup and recovery allows users to perform backups directly to their existing ONTAP infrastructure. This addition streamlines backup workflows with direct-to-destination backup processes, eliminating intermediary storage systems and reducing the steps needed to complete a backup.
With ONTAP S3 as a backup destination, BlueXP backup and recovery users can also better utilize ONTAP's advanced data management capabilities. Users can employ data tiering to automatically move infrequently accessed data to cost-effective storage tiers, reducing storage costs and optimizing capacity usage. ONTAP storage efficiency features, mainly data compression and deduplication, can be further utilized to minimize the backup storage footprint, ultimately reducing backup costs and improving storage efficiency. Currently, the S3 destination is only supported through the API with UI support to follow in future releases.
Utilizing ONTAP S3 as a new destination for BlueXP backup and recovery helps organizations safeguard against accidental deletions or modifications by maintaining multiple versions of objects. The feature also allows you to establish granular control over data access and optimize data management by setting up bucket policies that define specific permissions for users and groups.
Beyond providing robust data protection and security, ONTAP S3 offers numerous features that help enhance your overall data management experience.
The introduction of ONTAP S3 as a backup destination for ONTAP data supports various use cases. Some of these include:
BlueXP backup and recovery provides comprehensive protection and long-term archiving for your enterprise ONTAP data, regardless of its location. Expanding its capabilities with ONTAP S3 as a new on-premises destination for ONTAP backup not only showcases NetApp's industry-leading expertise but also demonstrates a continuous commitment to strengthening its powerful data management features.
What does this mean for users? A seamless and powerful solution that allows backup copies to be stored in your preferred object storage backup system, whether it's a hyperscaler-based storage solution, on NetApp StorageGRID, or on the newly introduced ONTAP S3. This addition to BlueXP backup and recovery bolsters your data protection strategy by offering greater flexibility in storage options, enabling you to choose the most suitable solution for your specific needs. Taking advantage of on-premises object storage also helps you enhance data security and simplify data management.