NetApp Global File Cache vs Wasabi Cloud NAS

NetApp Global File Cache centralizes unstructured data in cloud storage while giving distributed offices access to active files. Core and Edge instances form the deployment, with Edge instances serving branches through an intelligent cache and virtual file share. The cache keeps locally relevant active datasets and clears least-recently-used cached files as that dataset changes. SMB provides access, and global locking supports consistency when people collaborate on files. Storage options include Azure NetApp Files, Cloud Volumes ONTAP and Cloud Volumes Service, subject to availability in the cloud environment. Integrations include Active Directory, access control lists, NTFS permissions and DFS Namespaces; deployments can also incorporate DNS/DHCP and SCCM software distribution services. The onboarding guide describes Core and Edge instances on Windows Server virtual machines, including VMware and Hyper-V templates. Cloud deployments require a minimum of 8 vCPU and 32 GB RAM. The licensing service needs HTTPS access over TCP port 443, and licensing is activated in the software UI using a subscription number. The listed one-year subscription is $250 a year; the schedule labels billing MTH. Pricing is also described as available on request.

Wasabi Cloud NAS is cloud gateway software that extends on-premises NAS, SAN, or DAS capacity with Wasabi object storage. A configuration wizard connects existing storage and starts offloading data, while files remain visible as though they were on local servers. Wasabi says files are retrievable within milliseconds, and that backup images can be reduced and repopulated from the cloud within minutes after a failure. The software installs on a Microsoft Windows server; team devices need no client software. It uses a hybrid deployment model, supports SMB and NFS, and provides edge synchronization with S3-compatible storage. Object features include versioning, lifecycle rules, immutability, cross-region replication, and a maximum object size of 5120 GB. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, with HTTPS, customer-provided SSE-C keys, MFA, IAM policies, Multi-User Authorization, and enterprise SSO options. Pay-as-you-go pricing is $9.99 a month per TB, with a 10 TB active-storage minimum.