DreamHost Launching DreamObjects Cloud Storage Service ($0.07/Mo./GB)

DreamHost, a web and cloud hosting company, announced DreamObjects, an inexpensive, scalable object storage service that was developed to provide a reliable, flexible cloud storage solution for entrepreneurs and developers.

It is compatible with APIs of other popular object storage services, making it for application developers looking for faster performance and better reliability. Individuals and businesses looking to backup or store their files, media, and data online can do so simply and quickly, paying for the storage they use.

DreamHost is packing as much value as possible into complex services hidden behind easy-to-use interfaces and english messaging. The price per GB of storage is 7 cents per month for usage-based billing, and monthly prepaid plans go below 5 cents per GB to store 50TB or more of data from truly awesome digital life or social media start-up venture. Data transfer out of the service is a 7 cents per GB, and there are no charges for API requests or other bothersome fees.

"DreamHost is on a mission to give every content creator, entrepreneur and developer the freedom to create on the Internet. We do this by launching and supporting awesomely-engineered, super-flexible, and uber-value web and cloud services, and DreamObjects is definitely in this illustrious category," explained Simon Anderson, CEO of DreamHost. "In fact, the software we’re using to run DreamObjects is so high-voltage and super-secret that I can’t even say the name of it … without lisping at least."

DreamObjects is powered by Ceph, the open source, scalable, distributed storage system. Ceph’s architecture delivers storage virtualization and advanced redundancy, as the one-of-a-kind CRUSH algorithm intelligently replicates data across the storage cluster and continuously rebalances that distributed data to maintain high level of reliability. As an open source project, Ceph frees DreamObjects users from the restrictions of vendor lock-in, and because it runs on top of inexpensive server hardware, Ceph drives down DreamHost’s cost per gigabyte, which translates to savings for their customers.

"Inktank is very excited to support DreamHost’s industry-transforming object storage service," said Bryan Bogensberger, president and COO of Inktank Storage, Inc. "By leveraging the massively scalable open source Ceph storage technology, DreamHost is able to innovate cloud storage and compete with the industry giants and, longer term, enable true hybrid cloud storage to those standing up Ceph in their own private data centers."

Canonical Ltdwww.canonical.com’s Ubuntu Linux 12.4 powers DreamObjects and was selected for its performance and scalability.

Kyle MacDonald, VP Cloud at Canonical commented: "Canonical is pleased to see another leading cloud provider building their cloud infrastructure on Ubuntu. Ubuntu 12.04 LTS is the fastest, easiest and most cost effective way to build cloud infrastructures and it’s the reference operating system for both Openstack and the Ceph file system. With scalability and openness built in, Ubuntu is the best choice for delivering Dreamhost’s high performance cloud storage service."

DreamHost has also selected the Opscode Private Chef framework to automate the provisioning and configuration of the technology powering DreamObjects.

"DreamHost is answering the enterprise appetite for massive storage capacity with a unique service combining cloud scale and data center reliability," said Jay Wampold, VP of Marketing, Opscode. "By using Opscode Private Chef to automate its Ceph-powered platform, DreamHost is enabling businesses to store limitless amounts of data with the security of traditional storage offerings."

API-compatible with Amazon S3 and Rackspace Cloud Files, DreamObjects also enables access to a third-party app ecosystem that provides additional functionality to DreamHost’s storage service. Users who already have data stored in S3 or Cloud Files can use DreamHost’s migration tool to transfer data into DreamObjects.

Cloud storage company ElephantDrive was a user of DreamObjects early in its development. "We’ve tested DreamObjects as a storage platform for our backup and file synch services, and we think it’s a competitive and flexible solution that we plan on using to enable us to continue to drive innovation," said ElephantDrive’s CEO Michael Fisher.