Centralized storage

The storage component supports secure, highly available storage and retrieval of binary data that is identified by an ID.

The storage component differs from the databases of . The storage component stores transaction payload information in a file system of a server. Databases store metadata, including configuration information.

For example, when you configure storage after an installation of , the configuration information is stored in the database that is used by the data grid. But when you start running transactions, the payload information is stored in the storage component.

The storage component shields other components from the details of how blobs and files are persisted. Concerns about storage characteristics are centralized in one component, rather than addressed across several components. storage component supports:
  • Small, medium, and large-scale installations
  • Applications with smaller volumes of large files (traditional EDI and B2B MFT)
  • Applications with high volumes of small payloads (real-time B2B web services)
  • Central management

The following terms and concepts are basic to storage in :

  • Blob – A sequence of bytes whose length is known (in contrast to a stream whose length is unknown). Optionally has some metadata such as its Content-Type (such as, image/jpeg, text/xml, or application/json)
    Important: The term BLOB might be familiar from its use with relational databases. A storage blob is similar but not identical to it.
  • REST (Representational State Transfer) – A way of programmatically interacting with an HTTP server that uses the inherent strengths of the HTTP standard
  • CDMI (Cloud Data Management Interface) – A standard protocol that is published by SNIA that is based on REST.
  • Shared file system – Technology that allows a file server to share files with multiple clients. Shared file systems in include GPFS, CIFS, and NFS.

provides a software-only storage system, which requires only a shared file system mount.

The node images have a shared file system configured to meet availability needs.

The following components use the storage component:

  • AS2
  • AS4
The following components use the storage component:
  • Operational
    • Communications
    • Visibility
  • Informational
  • Messaging