Cloud Storage Technology and Its Applications

Abstract

In order to provide data storage services,cloud storage employs software to interconnect and facilitate collaboration between different types of storage devices.Compared to traditional storage methods,cloud storage poses new challenges in data security,reliability,and management.This paper introduces four layers of cloud storage architecture:data storage layer connecting multiple storage components,data management layer providing common supporting technology for multiple services,data service layer sustaining multiple storage applications,and user access layer.It then examines a typical cloud storage application—backup cloud (B-Cloud)—and discusses its software architecture,characteristics,and main research questions.