Amazon S3 Storage Classes

Amazon S3 Storage Classes Overview

Each file stored in Amazon S3 has a storage class. The storage class affects access performance, availability, minimum storage duration, and storage or retrieval charges. Choose a class for the file's access pattern rather than comparing only the per-GB storage price.

For general-purpose Amazon S3 buckets, CS Browser can display and apply:

• STANDARD - Frequently accessed files with millisecond access.
• STANDARD_IA - Long-lived, infrequently accessed files stored across multiple Availability Zones. Retrieval charges and a 30-day minimum apply.
• ONEZONE_IA - Re-creatable, infrequently accessed files stored in one Availability Zone. Retrieval charges and a 30-day minimum apply.
• INTELLIGENT_TIERING - Files with unknown or changing access patterns. Amazon S3 moves eligible files between access tiers automatically.
• GLACIER_IR - Rarely accessed archive files that still require millisecond retrieval.
• GLACIER - Long-term archive files retrieved in minutes to hours.
• DEEP_ARCHIVE - Long-term archive files retrieved in hours.

AWS also offers specialized storage classes for directory buckets and Amazon S3 on Outposts. They are not available in CS Browser's general-purpose Amazon S3 Change Storage Class menu.

REDUCED_REDUNDANCY is not recommended by AWS and is no longer available in that menu. See the Reduced Redundancy Storage article for details.

Storage prices, retrieval charges, minimum billable sizes, and minimum storage durations vary by class and Region. Check Amazon S3 pricing before changing a large number of files.

How to Check a File's Storage Class

When you browse a bucket, the Storage Class column in the Files table shows the class of each file. Amazon S3 returns this value with the bucket listing, so CS Browser does not need an additional request.

You can also select a file and open the Properties tab. The Storage class row shows the same value.

How to Change the Storage Class of Selected Files or Folders

1. Select one or more files or folders.

2. Choose Files > Change Storage Class to .. > [Storage Class].

   

CS Browser applies the selected class recursively to files inside selected folders and skips files that already use that class.

Amazon S3 changes an existing file's storage class by copying the file to the same key with the new class. Request, retrieval, and early-deletion charges may apply.

How to Change the Storage Class of an Entire Bucket

1. Select the bucket.

2. Choose Buckets > Change Storage Class to .. > [Storage Class].

   

CS Browser Pro enumerates the bucket, queues a change for each file that does not already use the selected class, and shows progress on the Tasks tab. The time required depends on the number and size of files and the configured queue concurrency.

How to Apply a Storage Class Automatically

You can use Default Storage Classes rules to choose a storage class automatically while files are uploaded. The class is sent as part of the upload request, so no second copy is needed only to apply the rule.

1. Choose Tools > Default Storage Classes...

   

2. In the Storage Class Rules window, click Add.

   

3. In Add New Storage Class Rule, specify the bucket name or mask, optional remote file name or mask, and storage class.

   

4. Click Add, then Save changes.

If more than one active rule matches an upload, CS Browser uses the first matching Storage Class rule.