AWS and NetApp now offer NetApp® enterprise storage arrays for AWS Outposts, an integrated solution to simplify the deployment of block storage for AWS Outposts. You can provision boot and block data volumes backed by NetApp on-premises enterprise storage arrays with Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) instances on AWS Outposts directly through the AWS Management Console and automation script. This integration allows you to use NetApp’s intelligent data infrastructure with AWS Outposts to create a resilient, compliant, and optimized infrastructure.
What is AWS Outposts?
AWS Outposts is a fully managed service that brings cloud capabilities to on-premises and edge locations. It offers the same AWS infrastructure, AWS services, APIs, and tools to run your applications on your premises as in AWS Regions. AWS compute, storage, database, and other services run locally on AWS Outposts, and you can scale your on-premises applications by using familiar AWS services and tools.
AWS Outposts is connected to a nearby AWS Region and operates with the same control plane as other AWS services in the Region, providing a consistent operational experience across AWS Regions and on-premises locations. Your AWS Outposts infrastructure and AWS services are managed, monitored, and updated by AWS, just as in AWS Regions.
Deep integration: NetApp and AWS Outposts
Simplified user experience. You can attach block data volumes backed by NetApp on-premises enterprise storage arrays to Amazon EC2 instances on AWS Outposts by using the EC2 launch instance wizard. In addition, you can launch Amazon EC2 instances on AWS Outposts with boot volumes backed by NetApp on-premises enterprise storage arrays by using AWS-provided Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) and automation scripts. This approach simplifies the user experience and automates volume attachments for various workloads.
Enhanced data protection. NetApp offers advanced data protection and compliance across AWS Outposts and AWS Regions, using NetApp Snapshot™ and NetApp SnapMirror® technology to prevent data loss and speed up recovery. NetApp supports block-based data replication from on-premises NetApp ONTAP® storage to AWS, and provides granular options for file backup and restores using NetApp SnapCenter® software.
Flexibility and agility. NetApp delivers industry-leading file, block, and object services and multiprotocol support, including iSCSI, which is widely used in on-premises VMware deployments. Adjustable capacity, throughput, and IOPS can be changed on the fly to quickly adapt to changing storage demands.
Seamless hybrid cloud. If you extend the power of AWS Cloud in your data center, you can use ONTAP connected to AWS Outposts and Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP in AWS Regions.
Improved performance. High-throughput, low-latency storage provides consistent, high performance for the most demanding workloads. Intelligent NVMe caching improves performance, and efficient replication optimizes recovery time objectives (RTOs), reducing backup time from hours to minutes.
Optimized storage footprint. ONTAP storage efficiencies reduce storage footprint and costs through techniques such as thin provisioning, data deduplication, compression, and compaction.
High availability and disaster recovery. NetApp technologies like SnapMirror support replication of boot volumes across AWS Availability Zones and Regions, enabling streamlined disaster recovery and quick, easy recovery from failures. Multipathing support delivers reliable path failover for added performance and resilience for iSCSI-attached boot volumes.
According to Jan Hofmeyr, vice president of EC2 Networking and Edge at AWS, “This collaboration between AWS and NetApp represents a significant leap forward in hybrid cloud solutions. By integrating NetApp’s enterprise storage capabilities with AWS Outposts through our native management console, we’re empowering customers to deploy and manage their on-premises workloads with the same ease and flexibility they’ve come to expect from AWS. This integrated solution not only simplifies operations but also enables advanced data protection and compliance capabilities, providing a seamless hybrid cloud experience. It’s a game-changer for organizations looking to leverage the power of the cloud while maintaining critical workloads on premises.”
Use cases and key advantages
NetApp and AWS Outposts support a broad range of workloads for block storage:
- VMware vSphere to Amazon EC2 instance migration. Migrate from VMware to Amazon EC2 instances where NetApp storage is the primary storage for all data.
- Databases. Run mission-critical databases on AWS Outposts and take advantage of NetApp tools for backup, replication, and disaster recovery.
- Enterprise and financial services apps. Run latency-sensitive applications or applications subject to regulatory compliance on AWS Outposts, and benefit from the AWS security and compliance features.
- Applications that generate large amounts of data. These apps include medical imaging for AI-guided procedures or visual inspection in an assembly line.
- Low latency. These enterprise apps require latency-sensitive interconnectivity with on-premises, high-performance databases.
- Data residency. This includes solutions that accommodate security, data protection, and privacy regulations for government and organizations.
Seamless hybrid cloud experience
The ability to use NetApp volumes with Amazon EC2 instances directly through AWS native tooling simplifies the user experience. Leverage the advanced storage capabilities offered by NetApp wherever you need them, both in AWS Regions with Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP and on premises with AWS Outposts.
To learn more, visit the NetApp for AWS Outposts page.
