Infortrend EonCloud Gateway

Overview

Infortrend EonCloud Gateway links local storage with cloud services for caching, synchronization, backup, archiving and tiering. It is best suited to enterprise storage teams building cloud workflows around existing local storage. Its range of targets and file- and block-level options is a strength; the need for at least 8 GB of system memory and storage-model-dependent licensing makes compatibility an early buying question.

Key features

Five setup modes address different jobs: Cloud File Cache, Cloud File Sync, Cloud Volume Replication, Cloud Archiving Storage and Cloud Tiering. File sync supports one-way or two-way synchronization, while block-level cloud backup can provide a remote backup site. That gives teams choices for access, movement and recovery rather than forcing every workload into a single pattern.

The gateway connects to Amazon S3, Microsoft Azure, Alibaba Cloud, Google Cloud, OpenStack, Baidu Cloud, Tencent Cloud, Wasabi, Yandex Object Storage, hiCloud, HCP and Backblaze Cloud. Supported protocols include NFS, CIFS, FTP, Rsync, Fibre Channel and iSCSI. The breadth is useful for varied storage environments, but teams should confirm that their intended target and protocol combination suits their deployment.

Cache policies include Default, High Priority, Local Only, Low Priority, Not Applicable, Uncacheable for Read and Uncacheable for Write. This range lets administrators distinguish data that should remain locally accessible from data that should not be cached. Reports and tools monitor cloud connection status, network transmission, local access and cache hit rate or usage, helping teams assess how the setup is behaving.

Infortrend says the gateway encrypts data with a unique key and uses SSL for transmissions to and from the cloud. Built-in compression and deduplication reduce data size for storage and transmission. It can also synchronize file access control lists across storage devices and retain read-write permissions. These capabilities address security, transfer efficiency and permission continuity, though the product's value depends on fitting it into the organization's existing storage design.

Pricing

EonCloud Gateway is paid software with a 90-day trial and no free plan. The trial provides cache and sync modes, up to five connected folders and five connected volumes, and up to 1 TB of cache and cloud-volume capacity. It offers a bounded way to assess those workflows, but the listed trial limits are materially below the capacity available in the Standard and Enterprise plans.

Standard has custom pricing and provides file cache and sync, up to five connected folders and volumes, and up to 2 PB of folder cache and cloud-volume capacity. It suits teams that need substantial capacity but can work within the five-connection limit. Enterprise is also custom-priced; it raises the limit to 32 connected folders and volumes, allows up to 10 cache settings, and supports up to 2 PB of folder cache and cloud-volume capacity. That is the better fit for deployments with more connections and settings to manage.

Ultimate has custom pricing and includes all cache policies and function parameters. License upgrades depend on the purchased storage model, so prospective buyers should establish which license applies to their hardware before choosing a tier.

Platforms

EonCloud Gateway is self-hosted, with a hybrid deployment model and local caching. Its supported protocols are NFS, CIFS, FTP, Rsync, Fibre Channel and iSCSI. The minimum system-memory requirement is 8 GB, making this a storage infrastructure choice rather than a general-purpose desktop cloud app.

Who it's for

Infortrend positions the gateway for enterprises integrating local storage with cloud services. It makes most sense for teams that need several cloud targets, file and block workflows, or local caching alongside cloud backup and tiering. Infortrend says its worldwide support network assists with installation, configuration, diagnosis and troubleshooting, which may matter to organizations deploying a storage gateway as part of a wider infrastructure.

Pros and cons

Pros: Five workflow modes cover caching, synchronization, replication, archiving and tiering, giving storage teams options for distinct needs.

Pros: A broad set of cloud targets and both file- and block-level protocols can accommodate varied storage environments.

Pros: Encryption, compression, deduplication and ACL synchronization address security, transfer size and permission continuity.

Cons: The 8 GB memory minimum and storage-model-dependent license upgrades mean hardware and licensing fit need to be resolved before adoption.

Cons: Standard, Enterprise and Ultimate use custom pricing, making cost comparison harder before a vendor discussion.

Cons: The trial is limited to cache and sync modes and 1 TB of cache and cloud-volume capacity, so it does not cover the full plan range.

Alternatives

LucidLink is a better alternative for teams seeking a service with broad desktop, mobile and web platform support and a published Starter price of $7 a month, billed per member monthly, with annual billing saving 15%. Triofox is another paid option with self-hosted and desktop, mobile and web platforms. Morro Data CloudNAS may suit buyers comparing a published Business plan priced on request, with up to two CacheDrives and unlimited maximum storage.

CloudMounter is worth considering for personal Mac or Windows use: it has a free plan and published personal options, including a $29 a year Mac subscription. Peer Global File Service is a paid option for Linux, self-hosted and Windows platforms. ObjectiveFS is a paid alternative for Linux, macOS and self-hosted use, with a published Personal plan at $99 a month. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Object Storage is a freemium object-storage alternative, including an Infrequent Access plan priced at $0.01 a month per gigabyte of storage capacity. Wasabi Cloud NAS is a paid web and Windows option with a $9.99 a month pay-as-you-go plan per TB, subject to a 10 TB minimum monthly charge for active storage.

For a broader category comparison, see Cloud Storage Gateway Software.

Verdict

Choose Infortrend EonCloud Gateway if your enterprise needs to connect local storage to multiple cloud targets and manage cache, sync, backup or tiering through file- and block-level workflows. Its breadth is the main reason to buy; the memory requirement, storage-model-dependent licensing and custom pricing are reasons to look elsewhere if you need a simpler or more price-transparent service.