# Storage Overview

DanubeData provides high-performance, reliable storage solutions for your cloud infrastructure. This guide covers storage types, features, and best practices.

## Overview

Storage options include:

- **NVMe SSD Storage**: Ultra-fast NVMe storage included with all instances
- **Block Storage**: Additional persistent storage volumes
- **Snapshots**: Point-in-time backups of volumes and instances
- **Database Storage**: Managed database storage with automatic scaling
- **Backup Storage**: Long-term backup storage

## Storage Types

### NVMe SSD Storage

Included with all VPS instances:

- **Performance**: Up to 3,000+ MB/s read, 2,000+ MB/s write
- **IOPS**: 100,000+ random read IOPS
- **Latency**: Sub-millisecond latency
- **Reliability**: Enterprise-grade NVMe SSDs
- **Included**: Part of instance profile

**Learn More**: [NVMe Storage Documentation](https://docs.danubedata.ro/storage-nvme)

### Block Storage

Additional persistent volumes — the productized **Volumes** feature:

- **Capacity**: 10–500 GB per volume
- **Performance**: network-attached SSD storage
- **Flexibility**: Attach/detach from instances
- **Snapshots**: Create point-in-time backups
- **Scaling**: Resize volumes without downtime

**Learn More**: [Volumes Documentation](https://docs.danubedata.ro/volumes)

### Snapshots

Backup volumes and instances:

- **Full Backups**: Complete volume/instance copies
- **Incremental**: Only changed data after first snapshot
- **Instant Recovery**: Restore in minutes
- **Retention**: Keep snapshots as long as needed

**Learn More**: [Snapshots Documentation](https://docs.danubedata.ro/storage-snapshots)

## Storage Performance

### NVMe Performance

Typical performance metrics:

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Sequential Read | 3,000+ MB/s |
| Sequential Write | 2,000+ MB/s |
| Random Read IOPS | 100,000+ |
| Random Write IOPS | 80,000+ |
| Latency | < 1ms |

### Block Storage Performance

Volumes are network-attached, with throughput up to ~1 Gbps. For the highest IOPS, use the local NVMe on your VPS root disk.

## Storage Pricing

### Included Storage

- VPS instances include SSD storage in profile
- Database instances include storage in profile
- Cache instances include persistence storage

### Additional Storage

**Block Storage (Volumes)**:
- €0.04/GB/month
- Billed hourly

**Snapshots**:
- €0.073/GB/month
- Incremental storage only

## Best Practices

### Storage Management

1. **Right-Size Volumes**: Start small, scale as needed
2. **Regular Snapshots**: Backup important data
3. **Monitor Usage**: Track storage consumption
4. **Clean Up**: Delete unused volumes and snapshots
5. **Use Block Storage**: For data that needs to persist independently

### Performance Optimization

1. **Use NVMe**: Fastest performance for OS and applications
2. **Separate Data**: Use block storage for data volumes
3. **RAID Not Needed**: Storage already redundant
4. **Filesystem Tuning**: Use ext4 or xfs for best performance
5. **Monitor IOPS**: Ensure not hitting limits

### Data Protection

1. **Regular Backups**: Automate snapshot creation
2. **Test Restores**: Verify backups work
3. **Multiple Copies**: Export important snapshots for offsite copies
4. **Encryption**: Enable encryption for sensitive data
5. **Access Control**: Limit who can delete volumes

## Related Documentation

- [Block Storage](https://docs.danubedata.ro/storage-block)
- [NVMe Storage](https://docs.danubedata.ro/storage-nvme)
- [Snapshots](https://docs.danubedata.ro/storage-snapshots)
- [VPS Managing](https://docs.danubedata.ro/vps-managing)
- [Database Backups](https://docs.danubedata.ro/databases-backups)