Simplify the configuration and deployment of cloud object storage

Starting with IBM Spectrum® Protect 8.1.13, the cloud credentials of cloud-container storage pools are automatically migrated to newly created cloud connections. Cloud connections support read and write operations to and from cloud object storage. Each newly created cloud connection is associated with a cloud-container storage pool. Parameters that are used to connect to cloud object storage providers are specified in the cloud connection and not in the cloud-container storage pool.

Because cloud connections are maintained separately from cloud-container storage pools, you have more flexibility when you work with cloud connections. For example, you can reuse the same connection for two cloud-container storage pools.

In a cloud connection, you can specify a cloud object storage protocol or provider. For example, you can specify the Simple Storage Service (S3) protocol for IBM Cloud® Object Storage or Amazon Web Services S3. You can also specify the Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud Storage cloud computing system. Swift-based cloud types (SWIFT, V1SWIFT, and IBMCLOUDSWIFT) are deprecated in IBM Spectrum Protect 8.1.13. You cannot specify a Swift-based cloud type for a new connection.