ZFS, not FUSE: 13 GB/s from $0.02/GB GCS object storage on a single VM (zettalane.com)

A new approach to leveraging object storage for high-performance workloads has emerged, demonstrating the potential for achieving 13 GB/s throughput using standard Google Cloud Storage (GCS) at just $0.02 per GB. The solution, developed by MayaNAS, replaces the commonly used FUSE (Filesystem in Userspace) with ZFS, a robust kernel-based filesystem that strips data across multiple object storage buckets. This shift addresses the significant performance drawbacks of FUSE, which can cause up to 83% performance degradation by introducing costly context switches during I/O operations. By using ZFS, applications can access object storage with real POSIX compliance while benefiting from advanced features like end-to-end checksums, snapshots, and efficient in-kernel I/O operations. The implications for the AI/ML community are considerable. This methodology enables seamless integration with AI frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch while capitalizing on the cost-effectiveness and durability of object storage. The ability to fetch data at high throughput allows for accelerated AI training processes and efficient media production workflows. Moreover, the integration of deeper read-ahead mechanisms and more concurrent reads positions this solution as a game-changer for data-intensive tasks, making it a strong contender for applications that require massive data streams, such as genomic sequencing and big data analytics. This advancement underscores the potential to unlock object storage's capabilities beyond traditional use cases, providing a pathway for performance on par with more expensive storage solutions.