Storage Services

CloudRaya provides multiple storage services designed to support different workload needs, from operating system disks to application data, backups, and container images.

Each storage service serves a specific purpose and behaves differently in terms of performance, persistence, and access method. Understanding these differences helps you design reliable, scalable, and cost-aware infrastructure.

This section introduces the available storage services in CloudRaya and guides you to the right solution for your use case.

How Storage Works in CloudRaya

Storage in CloudRaya is independent from compute.

This means:

• Data can persist even when a Virtual Machine is stopped or deleted
• Some storage services can exist without being attached to a VM
• Storage lifecycle does not always follow VM lifecycle

Depending on the service, storage can be:

• Attached directly to a Virtual Machine
• Accessed over the network using APIs
• Used as a backup or recovery mechanism

Storage Services at a Glance

CloudRaya currently provides the following storage services:

VM Storage (Block Storage)

Block storage is disk storage attached to a Virtual Machine.

Best for:

• Operating system disks
• Databases
• Application data
• Stateful workloads

Key characteristics:

• Attached directly to a VM
• Supports additional volumes
• Can be resized
• Supports snapshots and scheduled backups

📄 See: VM Storage & Volumes

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StorageRaya (Object Storage)

StorageRaya is an S3-compatible object storage service designed for unstructured data.

Best for:

• Media files
• Static assets
• Backups and archives
• Logs and application output

Key characteristics:

• Accessed via API or S3-compatible tools
• Not attached to a VM
• Highly durable
• Scales independently from compute

📄 See: StorageRaya

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Backups and Snapshots

Snapshots capture point-in-time disk data and are used as the foundation for backups and recovery.

Best for:

• System rollback
• Disaster recovery
• Data protection
• Creating OS templates

Key characteristics:

• Operate at the disk level
• Support manual and scheduled snapshots
• Persist independently of the VM
• Root disk snapshots can be converted into OS Templates for VM deployment

📄 See: Backups and Snapshots

📄 See: Using OS Templates

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CloudRaya Container Registry

CloudRaya Container Registry stores container images used for application deployment.

Best for:

• Docker images
• CI/CD pipelines
• Kubernetes (KubeRaya) workloads

Key characteristics:

• Stores container images securely
• Integrated with CloudRaya services
• Storage usage is tracked independently

📄 See: CloudRaya Container Registry

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Choosing the Right Storage Service

A simple guideline:

• Use VM Storage when your application needs a filesystem or persistent disk
• Use StorageRaya when you need scalable, API-based object storage
• Use Snapshots to protect data and enable recovery
• Use Container Registry to manage application images

Each service is designed to work together without overlapping responsibilities.

Storage and Virtual Machines

Virtual Machines in CloudRaya typically use multiple storage layers:

• A root disk for the operating system
• Optional additional storage volumes for data
• Snapshots for backup and recovery

Deleting a VM does not always delete all associated storage automatically. Storage behavior depends on the type and configuration.

Understanding storage lifecycle is important to avoid data loss or unnecessary costs.

Best Practices Overview

When working with storage in CloudRaya:

• Separate system disks and data disks when possible
• Use snapshots before major changes
• Apply snapshot schedules for important workloads
• Avoid using VM storage for large static files
• Clean up unused storage and snapshots regularly

Detailed recommendations are available in each storage service guide.

Summary

• CloudRaya provides multiple storage services for different use cases
• Storage is independent from compute
• Each storage type has a specific role
• Choosing the right storage improves reliability and scalability

Understanding storage fundamentals is the first step toward building stable infrastructure on CloudRaya.

Next Steps

Explore the detailed guides to start using CloudRaya storage services:

• Attach, resize, snapshot, and manage VM disks.

  📄 VM Storage & Volumes

• Store and access data using S3-compatible APIs.

  📄 StorageRaya

• Protect data and design recovery workflows.

  📄 Backups and Snapshots

• Store and manage container images for deployments.

  📄 CloudRaya Container Registry