File System
Definition
A method of organizing and storing files in a hierarchical structure of folders and directories, accessible over a network or in the cloud.
Use Cases
- Autodesk: Shared storage for distributed rendering and design workloads that need POSIX-style file access from many compute nodes. — Used Amazon EFS with Amazon EC2 to provide a shared file system that multiple instances can mount concurrently, simplifying collaboration and pipeline steps that expect a standard file system. (Reduced operational overhead compared to self-managed file servers and improved scalability for bursty compute workloads that need shared access to the same project files.)
- Weta Digital: Large-scale visual effects production requiring many render and artist workstations to access shared assets and shot data. — Adopted cloud-based shared file storage patterns on AWS, including Amazon EFS for shared file access where a managed NFS file system fit the workflow, alongside other storage services for different data types. (Enabled elastic scaling of compute for rendering while maintaining shared access to production files, supporting faster turnaround during peak demand.)
- Siemens: Enterprise applications needing shared file storage for multiple servers, including lift-and-shift workloads that expect SMB shares. — Used Azure Files to provide managed SMB file shares that can be mounted by multiple Windows and Linux VMs, integrating with identity controls and existing Windows-based tooling. (Simplified migration of file-share-dependent applications to the cloud and reduced the need to manage traditional Windows file servers.)
Provider Equivalents
- AWS: Amazon Elastic File System (EFS)
- Azure: Azure Files
- GCP: Filestore
- OCI: OCI File Storage
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the difference between a file system and object storage (like Amazon S3 or Azure Blob Storage)?
- A file system stores data as files and folders (directories) and is accessed with file protocols like NFS or SMB, which many apps expect. Object storage stores data as objects in buckets/containers, accessed via HTTP APIs. File systems are best when apps need shared mounts, file locking, and directory semantics; object storage is best for massive scale, durability, and simple API-based access to unstructured data.
- When should I use a cloud file system (like EFS, Azure Files, or Filestore)?
- Use a cloud file system when multiple servers or containers need to read and write the same files at the same time, or when your application expects a mounted drive with folders (for example: content management systems, shared web assets, home directories, media workflows, build artifacts, and lift-and-shift apps that require NFS/SMB). If you don’t need shared POSIX/SMB access, consider object storage for lower operational effort and often lower cost at large scale.
- How much does a cloud file system cost?
- Pricing is typically based on (1) storage capacity used (GB-month), (2) performance/throughput mode or provisioned IOPS/throughput (depending on the service), (3) data access patterns (some tiers charge differently for infrequent access), and sometimes (4) snapshots/backups and (5) data transfer (especially cross-AZ/region or egress). Costs rise with higher performance tiers, frequent metadata operations, and large numbers of clients. For accurate estimates, use each provider’s pricing calculator and model expected GB stored, throughput/IOPS needs, and backup retention.
Category: storage
Difficulty: basic
Related Terms
See Also