Panzura’s CloudFS 8.6 update brings native AWS S3 API compatibility and file-level geofencing, promising a streamlined approach to data management, compliance, and eliminating those pesky data silos. Forget juggling multiple infrastructures; Panzura aims to consolidate it all.
Data sovereignty
Geofencing consolidates
Administrators can craft granular policies based on file types, folders, shares, or even the entire file system. Multiple policies can be applied across regions. Ken Clipperton of Data Center Intelligence Group LLC calls it a “significant enhancement over manually managing cloud instances.” No more mixed buckets of data causing headaches. Content-based policies are the name of the game.
The native S3 interface is Panzura’s olive branch to organizations grappling with the file vs. object storage dilemma. File storage, with its familiar hierarchy of files and folders (think NFS or SMB), is great for general-purpose filesharing but doesn’t scale well. Object storage, with its flat address space, unique identifiers, and rich metadata, scales like a boss but can be tricky for users to navigate.
Amazon S3, is a common object storage service.As Kanthadai points out, many customers have “new-age applications” relying on S3. Previously, they’d have to copy data into a separate dataset, creating a maintenance nightmare. S3 gateways are another workaround, but their authentication and permission models can be problematic. Panzura aims for seamlessness, ensuring the same permission model across SMB, NFS, and S3.
Transitioning from S3 gateways to native access is supposedly a breeze. “Once you upgrade, you just enable the S3 access,” says Kanthadai. Users retain the same credentials and permission model as with SMB. Panzura’s storage cloud leverages object storage with file services on the front end, promising no performance penalty. The HTTPS protocol handles multiple streaming sessions without breaking a sweat.
CloudFS 8.6 isn’t just about S3 and geofencing; it’s a whole buffet of enhancements. Quota management keeps storage usage in check. An audit trail logs all system management operations, providing accountability. Support for Grafana offers visualization and monitoring capabilities. And let’s not forget support for Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), streamlining identity and access management. These are the cherries on top of a very substantial sundae.According to Mike Harvey, senior vice president of product, Panzura’s unified namespace eliminates the pitfalls of gateway-based solutions. For IoT instruments and AI systems producing data sets, there’s no need for transformation and copying. “Getting the namespace together is a big piece,” he emphasizes. Panzura’s solution is meant to make things easier, not harder.
Clipperton from DCIG notes that Panzura has carved out a “distinctive position” in the market with its distributed file system. Its endpoints don’t have to coordinate changes through the cloud. Instead, they can directly send compressed, encrypted changes to other endpoints. This is a big deal, especially when considering performance and latency in distributed environments. It’s a testament to Panzura’s commitment to innovation and its understanding of the evolving needs of modern enterprises. Panzura’s website is the best place to learn more.
