DataCore Swarm Object Storage Solution
Object Store for Core, Edge, and Hybrid Cloud Environments
The scalable and flexible software-defined DataCore Swarm object storage platform is specifically designed to handle, safeguard, and distribute extensive volumes of unstructured data. With a cluster-based, expandable structure, Swarm provides comprehensive solutions for data backup, content dissemination, and emergency preparedness in on-site, cloud-based, and hybrid setups. This overview will delve into Swarm's capabilities, design, implementation possibilities, and primary applications to give you a thorough grasp of its abilities in streamlining data storage and administration.
DataCore Swarm is Object Storage Solution designed for use in Core, Edge, and Hybrid Cloud Environments. Offering an on-premises object storage solution that streamlines data management, storage, and protection, while providing seamless S3/HTTP access for applications, devices, and end-users.
DataCore SWARM architecture and design
The DataCore Swarm utilises a clustered, distributed framework that utilises x86 standard servers and storage devices. This grants flexibility in hardware selection while enhancing storage effectiveness and speed. With this architecture, the system can horizontally expand its capacity without requiring costly hardware replacements. As a unified object storage solution, Swarm efficiently manages data across multiple locations and allows for seamless capacity expansion by adding additional nodes.
Every node in the DataCore Swarm cluster is designed to operate independently and automatically joins the network upon deployment. The solution utilises dynamic replication and erasure coding methods to safeguard against data loss caused by failures of nodes or hardware components. With its advanced erasure coding technology, Swarm increases storage efficiency and reduces the overhead typically associated with traditional RAID systems, ensuring high data availability and protection at a more economical storage cost.
DataCore Swarm Flexible Deployment Models
DataCore Swarm offers the flexibility to be configured in different ways to cater to specific business requirements. It is capable of accommodating:
For those in need of full data management, Swarm can be implemented on physical equipment at a private data facility for complete control. This configuration offers top-notch performance and protection, with the added benefit of integrating with current IT systems.
Swarm can be implemented on the edge to facilitate localised data storage and processing, effectively reducing latency for time-critical tasks. This feature is particularly advantageous in fields such as media, telecommunications, and manufacturing, where immediate data processing is essential.
Swarm facilitates seamless integration with public cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud for hybrid cloud deployment. This enables businesses to leverage cloud resources for scalability or disaster recovery and offload cold data to cheaper storage tiers, reducing the strain on primary storage systems.
Features and Benefits of DataCore Swarm
With its wide range of features, Swarm is ideal for various enterprise needs. More specifically, it excels in industries such as media, healthcare, and high-performance computing. Take a look at some of its standout features below:
Swarm's clustered architecture enables seamless scaling, from mere terabytes to numerous petabytes, without any disruption. This is accomplished through the addition of new nodes to the cluster, which are promptly detected and incorporated into the storage pool.
Swarm offers a range of data protection measures, such as synchronous and asynchronous replication, erasure coding, and retention scheduling. Additionally, it supports WORM compliance to maintain data immutability and safeguard against unintended deletions and ransomware threats.
The platform's self-healing feature can detect and fix data corruption or hardware problems without the need for manual involvement. This results in lower downtime and less administrative effort.
DataCore Swarm offers a diverse range of access protocols, such as S3, HTTP(S), NFS, and SMB, accommodating integration with a variety of applications and workloads. With this broad support for multiple protocols, managing data becomes effortless, allowing enterprises to utilise DataCore Swarm for an array of purposes - from archiving to active data processing.
Swarm's custom metadata feature enables administrators to add personalised tags to files, significantly improving the search and organisation capabilities for data stored in large and intricate datasets.
Darkive™ Power Conservation utilises patented technology to reduce energy usage by automatically slowing the rotation of disks during times of low activity. This not only decreases operational expenses, but also ensures that data remains accessible whenever necessary. This advantageous feature is especially valuable for extensive deployments that prioritise energy conservation.
Swarm's architecture allows for direct content streaming from the storage layer, providing users with immediate access to videos, images, and other media files without the use of additional content delivery networks. This feature is particularly beneficial for businesses in the media and entertainment industry.
The effective handling and control of information is crucial in modern business practices. This includes proper supervision and regulation of data across all aspects of the organisation.
DataCore Swarm provides an extensive range of data management and governance resources, which include:
Lifecycle Management: In terms of managing the lifecycle of data, administrators have the ability to establish rules for how long data should be retained, replicated, and archived. This will facilitate automatic management of data lifecycle in accordance with compliance and cost goals.
Secured Multi-Tenancy: DataCore Swarm offers secure multi-tenancy capabilities, enabling multiple business units or customers to securely share a single storage infrastructure. Each tenant is assigned unique permissions and quotas, promoting data security and governance within multi-tenant environments.
Unified Namespace: The solution ensures a unified namespace throughout the entire storage cluster, streamlining data access and management. This feature is essential in maintaining a consistent data view, even when dealing with storage nodes dispersed across different geographical locations.
Audit and Compliance: DataCore Swarm offers various features, such as audit logs, encryption, and data integrity seals, to maintain compliance with different data protection regulations like GDPR and HIPAA under the category of Audit and Compliance. These audit logs have the ability to record all access and modifications made, enabling a comprehensive record of data usage.
Applications and use cases
DataCore Swarm is a versatile solution that caters to various sectors such as media, healthcare, finance, and government. Its adaptability, expandability, and robust data security measures make it highly sought after. Notable applications include:
Media Asset Management: DataCoreSwarm, our media asset management solution, is perfect for handling extensive media collections. Its impressive capability to directly stream content from the storage layer and its support for various access protocols make it a suitable choice for those in need of video-on-demand platforms, broadcasters, and content creators.
Healthcare Data Archiving: Swarm's data archiving capabilities for healthcare are in compliance with regulations and equipped with robust data protection measures. This makes it an ideal solution for storing a variety of medical records, imaging data, and research files. With its advanced encryption and immutability features, Swarm guarantees the utmost safeguarding of sensitive patient information.
Enterprise Backup and Archiving: DataCore Swarm offers a variety of options for enterprise backup and archival needs. With its cost-effective long-term storage capabilities, it serves as a reliable backup target for applications. Additionally, its hybrid cloud features enable organisations to easily replicate data to the cloud for disaster recovery purposes or migrate older data to more affordable storage tiers.
HPC, or High-Performance Computing: Utilises large datasets that necessitate scalable storage solutions capable of high throughput. DataCore Swarm provides the perfect solution for this, with its capacity for parallel data access and metadata management. It is particularly well-suited for handling intricate datasets in areas such as scientific research and simulations.
Integration and Compatibility
Swarm's compatibility with various applications and systems is made possible by its support for industry-standard APIs and protocols. It is flexible enough to be seamlessly integrated with:
Cloud Platforms such as AWS S3, Azure Blob Storage, and Google Cloud Storage provide the capability for hybrid and multi-cloud deployments.
Content Management Systems: DataCore Swarm can serve as a backend storage solution for both digital asset management (DAM) and content management systems (CMS).
Backup and Archive: Our solution for long-term data retention is highly versatile as it seamlessly integrates with top backup and archival platforms.
By utilising the solution's RESTful APIs, organisations have the flexibility to integrate with third-party applications and customise workflows to fit their specific requirements. This allows for a tailored platform that caters to the unique needs of each organisation.
Performance and Optimisation
DataCore Swarm is designed to handle demanding workloads efficiently, providing:
Low-Latency Access: With its efficient caching system, DataCore Swarm guarantees quick access to frequently used content by storing it in RAM.
High Throughput: DataCore Swarm's parallel I/O capabilities enable it to easily manage large amounts of simultaneous read and write operations, making it a perfect choice for high-traffic applications.
Dynamic Resource Allocation: With Dynamic Resource Allocation, workload demand is constantly monitored, allowing for automatic adjustments to resource allocation. This ensures optimal performance, eliminating the need for manual tuning.
Advantages and Limitations
Advantages include:
Scalability: Achieve effortless scalability from terabytes to petabytes.
Data Protection: Our data is guaranteed to be safeguarded through a combination of methods such as replication, erasure coding, and WORM compliance.
Flexibility: Facilitates various hardware and deployment options.
Content Streaming: By utilising direct streaming capabilities, the reliance on external CDNs is significantly reduced.
Darkive™ technology promotes energy efficiency by minimising power consumption during idle periods.
There are some constraints that must be taken into consideration.
In closing, it can be concluded that…
The multifaceted DataCore Swarm offers an efficient, top-performing object storage solution tailored to meet the ever-changing requirements of today's businesses. With its ability to scale, protect data, support multiple protocols, and directly stream content, it stands out as a prime option for industries dealing with massive amounts of unstructured data. Its clustered design, automatic self-repairing abilities, and strong security measures make Swarm a reliable storage platform that can keep up with the constantly shifting needs of data-focused enterprises.
With its integration capabilities with cloud platforms and support for multiple access protocols, as well as advanced data management features, DataCore Swarm proves to be a highly effective solution for both primary and secondary storage requirements. As data generation continues to surge in organisations, DataCore Swarm offers the scalability necessary to accommodate business growth.
