Launching a Glacier on AWS

In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on launching a Glacier on AWS, along with practical training points that will enhance your understanding of Amazon Web Services (AWS) storage solutions. AWS Glacier is a secure, durable, and low-cost cloud storage service designed for data archiving and long-term backup. As you delve into this guide, you will learn how to create a Glacier vault, upload archives, configure retrieval policies, and manage your archives effectively using the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI).

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Glacier Vault

Creating a Glacier vault is the first step in utilizing AWS Glacier for your data storage needs. A vault is a container for storing archives, and you can create multiple vaults within your AWS account. Here’s how to create a Glacier vault through the AWS Management Console:

• Log in to the AWS Management Console and navigate to the Glacier service.
• Choose "Get Started" or click on "Create Vault."
• Provide a unique name for your vault. Ensure that the name adheres to the AWS naming conventions—this typically includes lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens, with a maximum length of 256 characters.
• Select a Region. This is important because data stored in a particular region will be replicated within that region only. Choose a region that’s geographically close to your primary operations to minimize latency.
• Set Access Control (optional). You can attach an IAM policy to manage who can access the vault. It’s always a good practice to define access policies to ensure that only authorized users can manage the vault.

Once you have completed these steps, you can confirm the creation of your vault. AWS Glacier will provide you with a unique ARN (Amazon Resource Name) for your vault, which can be useful for tracking and managing resources.

Uploading Archives to AWS Glacier

After creating your vault, the next step is to upload archives. AWS Glacier supports various methods for uploading archives, including the AWS Management Console, AWS CLI, and AWS SDKs. Here’s a detailed approach for uploading archives using the AWS Management Console:

• Navigate to your Glacier vault in the AWS Management Console.
• Click on "Upload Archive."
• Select the file you wish to upload. AWS Glacier allows individual files up to 40 TB in size.
• Add Metadata (optional). You can provide metadata for your archive, which can help in searching for and organizing archives later.
• Review and upload. Once you are satisfied with your selections, click on the upload button.

Uploading archives can also be performed using the AWS CLI. Here’s a sample command to upload an archive:

aws glacier upload-archive --vault-name YourVaultName --account-id - --archive-body fileb://path/to/your/file

Replace YourVaultName with the name of your vault and specify the path to the file you want to upload. This command will efficiently transfer your file to the designated vault.

Configuring Retrieval Policies and Access Controls

Once your archives are uploaded, you may need to retrieve them in the future. AWS Glacier is designed for infrequent access, and it offers three retrieval options:

• Expedited: For retrievals that need to be completed within minutes.
• Standard: For retrievals that typically take 3 to 5 hours.
• Bulk: For retrieving large amounts of data, usually taking 5 to 12 hours.

Configuring retrieval policies is essential for managing costs and ensuring that data access aligns with your operational needs. You can set these policies when you initiate a retrieval request through the AWS Management Console or the AWS CLI.

To set up access controls, you can utilize AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) to create policies that define who can access your Glacier vault and what actions they can perform. An example policy to allow a user to upload and retrieve archives might look like this:

{
    "Version": "2012-10-17",
    "Statement": [
        {
            "Effect": "Allow",
            "Action": [
                "glacier:UploadArchive",
                "glacier:GetVaultNotifications",
                "glacier:InitiateJob",
                "glacier:GetJobOutput"
            ],
            "Resource": "arn:aws:glacier:us-west-2:123456789012:vaults/YourVaultName"
        }
    ]
}

This policy grants permissions for uploading archives and retrieving them, ensuring that your vault remains secure while still accessible to authorized users.

Using the AWS CLI to Manage Glacier Archives

The AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) is a powerful tool that allows you to manage AWS services directly from your terminal. Using CLI commands can significantly streamline your workflow when dealing with AWS Glacier. Below are some essential commands that you can utilize for managing Glacier archives:

Listing Archives

To list all archives in your vault, you can use the following command:

aws glacier list-archives --vault-name YourVaultName --account-id -

Retrieving an Archive

To initiate a retrieval job for an archive, you will need the archive ID, which you can obtain from the previous list command:

aws glacier initiate-job --vault-name YourVaultName --account-id - --job-parameters '{"Type": "archive-retrieval", "ArchiveId": "your-archive-id", "Tier": "Standard"}'

Checking Job Status

After initiating a retrieval job, you can check its status with:

aws glacier describe-job --vault-name YourVaultName --account-id - --job-id your-job-id

This command will provide details about the job, including its status and any errors that may have occurred.

Deleting Archives

If necessary, you can delete archives from your vault using the following command:

aws glacier delete-archive --vault-name YourVaultName --account-id - --archive-id your-archive-id

This command will permanently delete the specified archive. Be cautious when using it, as restoring deleted archives is not possible.

Summary

In this article, we explored the essential steps for launching a Glacier on AWS, including creating a vault, uploading archives, configuring retrieval policies, and managing archives using the AWS CLI. AWS Glacier is a robust solution for long-term data storage, providing a cost-effective and efficient way to manage your archival needs. By following this guide, you are now equipped with the knowledge required to implement AWS Glacier in your projects effectively. For further reading and best practices, consider consulting the official AWS Glacier Documentation.

With the understanding gained here, you can confidently leverage AWS Glacier to meet your data archiving requirements while maintaining security and accessibility.

Last Update: 19 Jan, 2025