Scalable File System

Scalable File System (SFS) is shared file storage that several nodes can mount and use at once. Nodes reach it over the Network File System (NFS). NFS is a standard protocol for sharing files across a network, and both Linux and Windows Server nodes can use it. You create an SFS once, give access to the nodes that need it, and mount it on each of them. SFS suits any work where several nodes need the same files, and snapshots, plus backups for an SFS in the Default VPC, protect that data.

How it fits together

Diagram as text

flowchart TD
    A[Create an SFS] --> B[Give a VPC or nodes access]
    B --> C[Mount it on each node]
    A --> D[Protect it with snapshots and backups]

What you can do

• Create an SFS with a plan and a VPC.
• Grant a VPC access to an SFS, or Configure per-node access to an SFS to choose nodes one at a time.
• Mount an SFS on a Linux or Windows Server node, or Use an SFS from Kubernetes as shared storage for pods.
• Create and schedule an SFS snapshot, then Clone or upgrade an SFS from it.
• Back up an SFS, and Restore from an SFS backup to bring back files from an earlier time.
• Convert an SFS to a committed plan for a lower rate, or Delete an SFS when you have finished with it.

Who it is for

Common uses:

• Websites and content management systems. Several web nodes behind a load balancer serve the same site files and uploads. A file saved on one node is there on all of them.
• Shared code and tools for development teams. The team’s nodes mount the same folders for code, build output, and tools. To try a change safely, clone the SFS from a snapshot and work on the copy.
• Data for analytics and machine learning. Many nodes read the same datasets at once. Give the nodes that only read the data Read Only access, so the data stays exactly as it is.
• Kubernetes and containers. With VPC-wide access, a Kubernetes cluster in the SFS’s VPC can reach it, so applications running on different nodes share one set of files. See Use an SFS from Kubernetes.
• Shared folders for Linux and Windows servers. Linux nodes and Windows Server nodes can both mount an SFS, for team folders, shared settings, or logs. If someone deletes a file by mistake, a backup brings it back.

Where to start

Start with Get started with SFS. If something goes wrong, Troubleshooting SFS has the fixes, and the SFS FAQ has short answers.