DreamObjects

Overview

DreamObjects is a new cloud storage service from DreamHost. Whether you want to store web application data or logs, site assets, backups and revisions, or personal data like photos, videos and documents, DreamObjects stores it reliably and cost effectively. Built on top of Ceph, an open source distributed object store designed to provide excellent performance, reliability and scalability, DreamObjects provides S3 and Swift compatible APIs. It's also accessible through our Panel and third-party app making it perfect for anyone needing virtually limitless storage.

Pricing is simple and straight-forward. Usage-Based Billing is 7¢/GB per month of storage and 7¢/GB per month of transfer out bandwidth. Prepaid plans are available too, with reduced storage rates, helping keep costs under control. And to make pricing even easier, there is no per-request API fees nor charges for data transferred into DreamObjects.

Target Audience & Use-Cases

• Personal Backup - Users needing to store large amounts of data for personal backup of music, photos, videos, complete system backup, etc. Generally, these users will connect with a third-party application.
• Web Developerment - Developers of web applications needing object storage to easily augment or replace existing S3 or Swift functionality. Store images, logs, generated data and more via API with DreamObjects.
• WordPress Sites - Anyone with a WordPress site can automate site backups, upload images to any bucket, and use a shortcode to display images using the DreamObjects Connection plugin.

Terminology

Object

Files uploaded to DreamObjects.

Bucket

A mechanism for grouping objects, similar to a folder. One key distinction is that bucket names must be unique, like a domain name, since they are used to create public URLs to stored objects.

Access Key

A similar concept to a username for DreamObjects users. One or more can be created for each user if desired. Each access key will allow access to all of the buckets and their contents for a user.

Secret Key

A similar concept to a password for DreamObjects users. A secret key is automatically generated for each access key and cannot be changed.

Key Pair

A singular term used to describe both an access key and its secret key.

ACL

Access Control Lists. Privacy settings that can be configured on objects and buckets.

FAQ

What can I do with DreamObjects?

DreamObjects allows you to store your data securely, redundantly and inexpensively. It can be used by web app developers in need of scalable storage, site creators looking to offload content and people looking to store data and access it anywhere.

How do I upload files into DreamObjects?

There are a few ways to store files in DreamObjects:

• RESTful API - DreamObjects is API-compatible with the Amazon S3 and OpenStack Swift APIs. Developers can tweak their configuration to point to objects.dreamhost.com and be up and running quickly. API Documentation is available at http://docs.dreamobjects.net/
• Third-Party Applications - Any third-party application that connects to Amazon S3 or OpenStack Swift and allows configuring the server URL can be used with DreamObjects. A couple examples are Cyberduck (see their How To) and CrossFTP which allow you to set the server URL to objects.dreamhost.com for an S3 bookmark. A command line example is boto rsync, an rsync like wrapper for S3-compatible object storage.
• Migrations - DreamObjects includes built-in migration tools, allowing you to easily copy buckets or containers from other object storage services supporting S3 or Swift compatible APIs. Augment your existing app with higher availability or simply take advantage of DreamObjects low rates.

What can I store in DreamObjects and is it redundant storage?

DreamObjects is designed for 99.99999% durability over a given year and your data is replicated three times, with immediate consistency, throughout our data center ensuring further backup security. DreamObjects is capable of storing almost any type of file, so long as it meets the conditions of the Acceptable Use Policy. Objects are limited to 10TBs, but will need to be uploaded in 5GB chunks.

How do I download files stored in DreamObjects?

Files you upload to DreamObjects can be downloaded in various ways:

• DreamHost Panel - If you are the owner of the DreamObjects account, you can log into the panel and download the file from the file browser.
• Signed URL - The file may also be downloaded through a web browser using a signed URL. A signed URL allows an object to be accessed regardless of its permissions. In the DreamHost panel, navigate to the object in the DreamObjects file browser. Right-click the download link to copy a URL. By default, this link is valid for one hour.

Does DreamObjects support permissions?

DreamObjects supports basic permissions in the web panel as well as ACLs compatible with S3 on buckets and objects. In the web panel, permissions can be set as either Public or Private. Public buckets and objects can be accessed by anyone. Private buckets and objects can only be accessed via a signed URL or through the API with the proper credentials.

DreamObjects also supports Access Control Lists (ACL) compatible with S3 to specify permissions on buckets and objects. Find more information here.

Where can I find more information on the API?

API Documentation is available at http://docs.dreamobjects.net/

Does DreamObjects include tech support?

Yes, expert technical support via email is included at no additional charge.

How do I get started?

Visit the DreamObjects page and sign up.

Can I use DreamObjects to store static files of my WordPress installation, thus accelerating my site?

Yes, but it (currently) requires some hacking.

Can I use DreamObjects as a CDN?

Yes, but at this time you won't be able to have full CDN functionality. Certain features, such as expires headers, are not yet available. These features are expected to exist by most caching products, so you will experience slightly degraded performance. We're working on true CDN right now!

Can I map a CNAME like mycdn.example.com to my public DreamObjects Buckets?

Not yet. We're working on this!

Billing

NOTE: you can only access to the DreamObjects page if you're the owner of the account where the DreamObjects service was added. No other customers, regardless of access privilege levels are able to manage your DreamObjects service in the DreamHost panel.

You have two options when it comes to DreamObjects pricing. Choose between a prepaid monthly storage plan or Usage-Based Billing. Transfer out bandwidth is charged at 7¢/GB per month. Transfer in bandwidth is free! There’s no per-request charge for API requests but storage and transfer charges still apply when initiated through the API. Our mission is to make what you pay simple, predictable, and affordable!

Gigabyte? Gibibyte? It's more than tomato/tomato. Whatever your naming preference, we call it a GB and it's 2³⁰ bytes or even 1024³ bytes. New math or old, it's 1,073,741,824 bytes.

Get something for nothing. DreamObjects provides 10GB of storage and 20GB of outbound bandwidth per month for 2 months. Only usage exceeding the trial limits will be charged at usage-based billing rates. Once the trial expires, you'll be automatically converted to Usage-Based Billing.

Usage-Based Billing

With Usage-Based Billing, you’ll be charged 7¢/GB per month for all data that you store. If your storage needs are variable, then Usage-Based Billing can work well because you just pay for the storage that you use. There's no need to worry about tiered pricing and transfer out of DreamObjects is a flat 7¢/GB per month.

Visualize your storage and bandwidth consumption charges and avoid billing surprises with easy-to-understand usage graphs right in the web panel.

How is my monthly data storage calculated?

Your total data usage is monitored regularly and stored in our system as bytes. We use the maximum bytes stored during the billing period, convert that to GB, then multiply by the appropriate rate.

How is my monthly transfer out bandwidth calculated?

Transfer out bandwidth is calculated based on metered data transfer out of DreamObjects. Similar to storage, transfer out bandwidth is stored in bytes. The aggregate number of bytes transferred out is converted to GB then multiplied by the transfer out bandwidth rate.

There is no charge for uploading data into DreamObjects.

Prepaid Monthly Storage Plans

Storage plans lower your effective price per GB for storage below the 7¢/GB rate. If you exceed your plan’s included storage, then it’s just 7¢/GB per month for additional storage.

There are several storage plans available to best match your needs. After selecting a plan, you’ll prepay the plan price each month. If you change your mind, you can upgrade the plan at anytime, or downgrade the plan effective your next billing cycle.

Check out our available prepaid storage plans

How is my monthly data storage calculated?

Your total data usage is monitored regularly and stored in our system as bytes. We use the maximum bytes stored during the billing period and compare it to the prepaid storage amount of the plan. If you've used less than your plan allows, there's no other storage charges. If you use more than your plan provides, we convert the overage to GB, then multiply by the appropriate rate.

How is my monthly transfer out bandwidth calculated?

Transfer out bandwidth is calculated based on metered data transfer out of DreamObjects. Similar to storage, transfer out bandwidth is stored in bytes. The aggregate number of bytes transferred out is converted to GB then multiplied by the transfer out bandwidth rate.

There is no charge for uploading data into DreamObjects.