📘 AWS Storage Gateway: Bridging On-Premises and Cloud Storage Seamlessly

The modern IT landscape is no longer confined to on-premises data centers. Organizations are rapidly moving workloads to the cloud while still retaining existing infrastructure investments. This dual environment creates the need for a hybrid storage solution that seamlessly connects local applications with cloud-based storage.

Enter AWS Storage Gateway—a hybrid cloud storage service that integrates your on-premises applications with AWS storage services like Amazon S3, Amazon EBS, and Amazon Glacier.

Think of it as a bridge between your data center and AWS cloud. It allows businesses to continue using existing on-premises applications and tools while benefiting from AWS scalability, durability, and cost efficiency.

🔑 What is AWS Storage Gateway?

AWS Storage Gateway is a hybrid cloud storage service that gives on-premises applications seamless access to virtually unlimited cloud storage. It runs as a virtual machine (VM), hardware appliance, or EC2 instance, providing organizations with multiple integration options.

📂 Types of AWS Storage Gateway

1. File Gateway

   • Provides file-based access (NFS/SMB protocols).
   • Files are stored as objects in Amazon S3.
   • Best for content repositories, backups, and analytics workloads.

2. Volume Gateway

   • Provides block storage volumes (iSCSI protocol).
   • Volumes can be cached locally or stored entirely in the cloud.
   • Best for disaster recovery and hybrid workloads.

3. Tape Gateway

   • Provides a virtual tape library (VTL) interface.
   • Uses S3 and Glacier for low-cost archival storage.
   • Ideal for replacing physical tape infrastructure.

⚡ Benefits of AWS Storage Gateway

• Seamless Integration → Works with existing apps using standard protocols.
• Elastic Scalability → Leverages the virtually unlimited AWS cloud.
• Cost Efficiency → Pay only for what you store.
• Durability → Backed by Amazon S3’s 11 nines durability (99.999999999%).
• Secure → Data encryption at rest and in transit.
• Disaster Recovery → Store data safely offsite in AWS.

🖥️ Example Programs Using AWS Storage Gateway

Let’s explore three examples—one for each type of gateway.

✅ Example 1: File Gateway – Store Files in Amazon S3

Step 1: Mount file share on-premises.

# Mount AWS File Gateway on Linux using NFS
sudo mkdir /mnt/aws_file_gateway
sudo mount -t nfs -o nolock file-gateway.example.com:/ /mnt/aws_file_gateway

Step 2: Store a file.

cp report.pdf /mnt/aws_file_gateway/

👉 This uploads the file to Amazon S3 as an object.

✅ Example 2: Volume Gateway – Attach a Cloud-Backed Volume

import boto3

# Create a volume gateway client
client = boto3.client('storagegateway')

# Create a cached volume
response = client.create_cached_iscsi_volume(
    GatewayARN='arn:aws:storagegateway:us-east-1:123456789:gateway/sgw-12A3456B',
    VolumeSizeInBytes=10737418240,  # 10GB
    TargetName='MyVolume',
    NetworkInterfaceId='eni-12345678',
    ClientToken='uniqueToken123'
)

print("Volume created:", response['VolumeARN'])

👉 This creates a 10 GB cached volume backed by AWS cloud storage.

✅ Example 3: Tape Gateway – Create a Virtual Tape for Backup

# Terraform script to create virtual tape
resource "aws_storagegateway_tape_pool" "example" {
  pool_name = "MyVirtualTapePool"
  storage_class = "GLACIER"
}

resource "aws_storagegateway_tape" "example" {
  gateway_arn = "arn:aws:storagegateway:us-east-1:123456789:gateway/sgw-12A3456B"
  tape_size_in_bytes = 107374182400  # 100GB
  pool_id = aws_storagegateway_tape_pool.example.pool_id
  tape_barcode = "TEST1234"
}

👉 Creates a virtual tape that automatically stores backups in Amazon Glacier.

🧠 How to Remember AWS Storage Gateway for Interviews & Exams

1. Analogy → Think of Storage Gateway as a USB adapter between your on-premises system and AWS cloud.

2. Mnemonic → “FVT = File, Volume, Tape” → The three gateway types.

3. Scenario Mapping:

   • Need file shares → File Gateway.
   • Need iSCSI block storage → Volume Gateway.
   • Need tape backups → Tape Gateway.

🎯 Why is AWS Storage Gateway Important?

• Hybrid Workloads → Many companies cannot move fully to cloud. Storage Gateway ensures smooth hybrid operations.
• Data Protection → Acts as an offsite backup solution.
• Cloud Adoption → Serves as a stepping stone for organizations moving gradually into AWS.
• Cost Savings → Eliminates the need for expensive tape libraries and on-premises backup systems.
• Disaster Recovery → Helps businesses recover quickly from on-site failures.

🔥 Common Interview Questions

Q1: What are the types of AWS Storage Gateway? 👉 File Gateway, Volume Gateway, and Tape Gateway.

Q2: How does File Gateway store files? 👉 Files are stored as S3 objects.

Q3: Difference between Cached and Stored Volumes? 👉 Cached Volumes keep most data in S3 with frequently used data cached locally. 👉 Stored Volumes keep all data on-premises, asynchronously backed up to AWS.

Q4: What is the advantage of Tape Gateway? 👉 It replaces physical tape libraries with virtual tapes in AWS.

🌍 Real-World Use Cases

• File Gateway → Shared file repository for analytics, media, or document storage.
• Volume Gateway → Enterprise applications requiring block-level storage with cloud backup.
• Tape Gateway → Backup replacement for enterprises still using tape libraries.

📖 Best Practices for AWS Storage Gateway

• Enable Encryption → Use AWS KMS for encryption at rest.
• Use Cached Volumes → For cost efficiency and reduced latency.
• Monitor with CloudWatch → Track gateway health and performance.
• Optimize Bandwidth → Configure local cache and schedule transfers.
• Test Disaster Recovery → Regularly simulate recovery scenarios.

🏆 Conclusion

AWS Storage Gateway is one of the most powerful hybrid storage solutions that bridges the gap between on-premises environments and AWS cloud services. It offers flexibility with File Gateway, Volume Gateway, and Tape Gateway, each solving specific storage challenges.

If you remember FVT (File, Volume, Tape), you can easily recall the three types of Storage Gateway and their use cases.

By learning Storage Gateway, you not only prepare for AWS certifications but also gain the knowledge to design real-world hybrid storage architectures that are secure, cost-efficient, and scalable.

👉 Always think: If I need hybrid cloud storage, AWS Storage Gateway is the bridge.