What is Amazon File Cache?
Amazon File Cache is a managed high-speed cache that consolidates data from various storage sources into a unified namespace. The cache is based on Lustre technology and provides sub-millisecond latencies and hundreds of GB/s throughput for workloads that need fast access to distributed data.
The service supports on-premises file systems (e.g., NFS), other cloud data sources, and Amazon S3 as data sources. Data is automatically loaded into the cache on first access and is subsequently available at full Lustre performance.
Core Features
- Multi-Source Cache: Unification of data from on-premises storage, other cloud sources, and S3 into a single namespace
- Lustre-Based Performance: Sub-millisecond latencies, hundreds of GB/s throughput, and millions of IOPS
- Automatic Caching: Data is transparently loaded from sources on first access
- POSIX-Compatible: Standard file system interface for existing Linux applications
- Temporary Operation: Optimized for time-limited workloads without long-term storage
Typical Use Cases
Cloud Bursting: Organizations process data residing in on-premises NFS systems using AWS compute resources. File Cache provides local performance for remote data and eliminates the need to copy data entirely to AWS beforehand.
HPC Data Processing: Scientific computations and simulations access data from various sources. File Cache unifies access and delivers the performance required for HPC.
Batch Processing: Time-limited processing jobs create a temporary File Cache, process data at high performance, and remove the cache after completion. This minimizes storage costs.
Benefits
- Unified access to distributed data sources
- Lustre performance without permanent storage overhead
- Transparent caching without application changes
- Cost-effective for temporary and recurring workloads
Integration with innFactory
As an AWS Reseller, innFactory supports you with Amazon File Cache: hybrid storage architecture, cache configuration for HPC workloads, integration with on-premises NFS systems, and performance optimization.
Typical Use Cases
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Amazon File Cache?
Amazon File Cache is a high-speed cache that consolidates data from various sources (on-premises storage, other cloud data sources, Amazon S3) into a unified, high-performance file system cache in AWS. The cache is based on Lustre technology.
How does the cache work?
File Cache creates a temporary, high-performance Lustre-based cache in AWS. Data is automatically loaded from configured sources on first access and cached locally. The cache provides sub-millisecond latencies for subsequent accesses.
When should I use File Cache instead of FSx for Lustre?
File Cache is ideal for temporary workloads that need data from multiple sources simultaneously, especially when data resides in on-premises NFS systems. FSx for Lustre is better suited for persistent workloads with S3 integration.
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