Dropbox is a cloud storage service that allows users to store and sync files across devices. It has over 100 million registered users who store over 1 billion files daily. Dropbox uses a distributed architecture, with metadata stored separately from file data to improve performance. File data is stored on Amazon S3 for scalability. Dropbox utilizes various networking techniques like TCP optimizations and caching to improve sync speeds and reduce bottlenecks despite limited bandwidth.
2. Table of Contents
• Cloud Storage Service
• What is “Dropbox”?
• Network Features
• Enhance performance
• References
3. Cloud Storage
Networked online storage
Data is stored in
virtualized pool of storage
(April 19, 2013 by wikipedia)
File hosting Services
http://www.fixmypcfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/cloud.jpg
4. Cloud Storage
Data access Limitation of network
Using up to date IT bandwidth
infrastructure Privacy
No tiresome Hard to predict costs
scale up, backup,
security, etc.
Low cost than building
own storage
https://dt8kf6553cww8.cloudfront.net/static/images/firebox_transparent.png
5. DropBox
• Cloud Storage Service provider
• Bring photos, docs, and videos anywhere
https://www.dropbox.com/static/images/syncbox_transparent.png
6. Numbers for Dropbox
• 100M registered Users
(2012.11)
• 1B files saved a day
(2012.11)
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/sf6whlu5dae4869/-PGKcBGWPU/Dropbox%20Logos/Web/png/dropbox-
logotype-vertical-color.png
10. Network Elements
Mutual Complement
Meta-data store File data store
Independent Datacenter Amazon EC2 and S3
Dropbox Datacenter Amazon EC2/S3
Meta-data Direct Links
Notifications Client Storage
Web server Back-traces
Event Logs Web storage
API Storage
http://www.gatech.pa/images/icons/database.png
14. Lan Sync?
Lan Sync
Lan Sync
Lan Sync
Speed Syncing
Immediately Update&Sync
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NpkPe_Ffv0k/TWB3uiLhDdI/AAAAAAAAAcw/1UIxBcGWnTM/s1600/lan-tradicional.gif
15. TCP PSH flag
Fast Transfer
Immediately Update&Sync
http://packetcrafter.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/tcp.png
16. Related Protocols
• Routing Protocols
– Using on the Internet protocol networks
• BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)
– External Gateway Protocol
– Used at the edge of your network
24. Conclusion
• Cloud storage services is trendy cloud
service, yet.
• It is the result of modern network
technologies integration.
– Fast sync vs. Congestion control
– Support multiple physical layer, etc.
• Performance bottleneck
– TCP handshaking delay
– Large file with chunks and ACKs
27. References
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_storage
• Dropbox Quick Start
• What is LAN sync?, https://www.dropbox.com/help/137/en
• Idilio Drago, Marco Mellia, Maurizio M. Munafò, Anna Sperotto,
Ramin Sadre, Aiko Pras. Inside Dropbox:Understanding Personal
Cloud Storage Services, ACM IMC’12, November 14–16, 2012
• Caching in theory and practice,
https://tech.dropbox.com/2012/10/caching-in-theory-and-practice/
• http://packetlife.net/blog/2011/mar/2/tcp-flags-psh-and-urg/
• http://compnetworking.about.com/library/glossary/bldef-dwdm.htm
• https://www.dropbox.com/release_notes