Amazon EFS (Elastic File System)
A scalable file storage service for use with Amazon EC2 instances.
Description
Amazon Elastic File System (EFS) is a fully managed, scalable file storage service designed to be used with Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud services and on-premises resources. EFS automatically scales your file system storage capacity up or down as you add or remove files, eliminating the need for provisioning and managing storage. It supports the Network File System (NFS) protocol, allowing multiple EC2 instances to access the same files simultaneously, making it ideal for use cases such as content management, web serving, and big data analytics. EFS is designed for high availability and durability, with data stored redundantly across multiple Availability Zones. Additionally, it offers performance modes that can be tuned based on application requirements, and the ability to integrate with AWS services like AWS Lambda and AWS Batch. This flexibility and ease of use make EFS a compelling choice for applications that require shared access to file storage in a cloud environment.
Examples
- A media company uses EFS to store and share video files among multiple editing teams using EC2 instances, allowing collaborative editing without file duplication.
- A data analytics firm utilizes EFS to manage large datasets that need to be processed by multiple EC2 instances simultaneously, ensuring quick access to the same files.
Additional Information
- EFS can be accessed from on-premises servers via AWS Direct Connect or VPN, facilitating hybrid cloud setups.
- EFS supports both General Purpose and Max I/O performance modes, catering to different workloads and access patterns.