4.2.2. DataSync and Snow Family

💡 First Principle: AWS DataSync and Snow Family enable secure, efficient, large-scale data transfers between on-premises environments and AWS. They overcome network limitations for massive datasets or remote locations, ensuring reliable migration.

AWS DataSync and Snow Family enable secure, efficient, large-scale data transfers between on-premises environments and AWS. They overcome network limitations for massive datasets or remote locations, ensuring reliable migration.

Migrating large volumes of data (terabytes to exabytes) from on-premises to AWS can be challenging due to network bandwidth limitations or the sheer size of the data. AWS offers specialized services to accelerate and simplify these transfers.

• "AWS DataSync": An online data transfer service that simplifies, automates, and accelerates moving data between on-premises storage and AWS storage services, or between AWS storage services. Accelerates online data transfer over Direct Connect or the internet. It's ideal for active, recurring transfers, handling encryption, data integrity, and incremental transfers.
• "AWS Snow Family": Comprises physical devices for offline data transfer and edge computing in disconnected or harsh environments. A collection of secure, rugged devices for transferring massive amounts of data offline into and out of AWS.
  • Snowball Edge: Petabyte-scale data transfer and edge computing device.
  • Snowmobile: Exabyte-scale data transfer service using a 45-foot shipping container.

Key Data Transfer Services & Use Cases:

• "DataSync": Online, automated, accelerated transfer of file/object data.
• "Snow Family": Offline/massive data transfer, edge computing.

Scenario: An enterprise uses AWS DataSync to automate online migration of terabytes from their on-premises NFS shares to Amazon S3, while a remote research facility employs Snowball Edge devices for offline transfer of petabytes of genomic data.

Visual: DataSync vs. Snow Family for Large-Scale Transfers

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Key Trade-Offs:

• Online vs. Offline: DataSync is online and relies on network bandwidth. Snow Family is offline, physically shipping data, ideal for bandwidth-constrained or extremely large datasets.

Reflection Question: How do AWS DataSync and AWS Snow Family address distinct challenges in hybrid cloud data transfer strategies by overcoming network limitations for varying data volumes and connectivity scenarios?