In the world of digital design and 3D printing, platforms that host and share 3D model files play a central role. These platforms often support millions of STL, OBJ, and other file types uploaded by designers worldwide. Every file might have multiple iterations, metadata entries, preview assets, and user-generated versions, making infrastructure demands exceptionally high.
The Storage Infrastructure Challenge
A 3D content sharing platform must provide:
- Petabyte-scale storage for model files and version histories
- High-throughput access for large, concurrent downloads
- Fast read/write performance for database and metadata queries
- Scalable compute power to handle background tasks such as preview rendering, version control, and scanning
- Consistent availability and low-latency content delivery for users around the globe
Meeting these challenges with public cloud services can quickly become expensive and complex. OpenMetal’s Storage Large v1 and v3 servers offer a purpose-built alternative, combining performance, scale, and cost control in one robust solution.
How OpenMetal’s Storage Servers Help
Petabyte-Scale Storage for Expanding Libraries
A single Storage Large v1 server offers 144 TB of raw HDD capacity, while the v3 model provides 216 TB. Deployed in a 3-node cluster, these servers can support well over half a petabyte of usable, redundant storage—ideal for platforms hosting millions of files with version history. With storage replication and fault tolerance, user content remains protected and highly available.
NVMe Acceleration for Hot Content
Recent or frequently accessed models can be cached on the built-in NVMe SSDs—7.7 TB in v1 and 16 TB in v3. When a model becomes popular, NVMe allows the platform to deliver files with SSD-like speeds (multi-GB/s throughput), dramatically improving user download experiences. Additionally, NVMe is ideal for storing metadata, user records, and indexes for high-speed database operations.
Generous RAM for Caching and Compute Tasks
Each server includes 128–256 GB of DDR4 RAM, enabling large in-memory caches and supporting tasks such as generating previews, comparing model versions, and real-time content moderation. High memory also reduces pressure on disk I/O, improving response times during peak usage.
Multi-Core CPUs for Parallel Processing
The v1 server delivers 40 CPU threads, while the v3 steps up with 64 threads, enabling extensive multitasking. Downloading, rendering, scanning, and indexing can all run in parallel without bottlenecks. CPU-intensive jobs like 3D format conversion and virus scanning can be efficiently distributed across cores.
High Bandwidth for Concurrent Downloads
OpenMetal servers feature 20 Gbps internal networking and 1–2 Gbps public uplinks. This enables rapid delivery of large files to end users. For example, a server could serve 25 users simultaneously at 100 MB/s, or hundreds at moderate speeds—perfect for new content launches or high-traffic events. These servers can also act as origin servers for CDNs, ensuring edge nodes are supplied without throttling.
Seamless Scalability
As the platform’s content library and user base grow, more Storage Large servers can be added to the cluster. New NVMe disks can expand the cache tier, and storage can be rebalanced across nodes. This modular growth strategy avoids the lock-in and unpredictable billing models of many public clouds.
Predictable Bandwidth for Global Distribution
Large 3D model files—often ranging from tens to hundreds of megabytes—require substantial outbound bandwidth. OpenMetal’s 95th percentile egress pricing makes bandwidth costs predictable, even during peak download activity. By ignoring the top 5% of usage spikes, OpenMetal allows platforms to absorb traffic surges (such as seasonal campaigns or viral model launches) without facing massive bills.
This approach is ideal for content-heavy businesses where outbound traffic can’t be neatly capped or forecast. Combined with generous base bandwidth allotments, it gives teams the freedom to deliver large files globally without compromise.
Summary: A Scalable Infrastructure Blueprint for 3D Content Platforms
OpenMetal’s storage servers present a compelling infrastructure model for 3D model sharing platforms that need to scale reliably and affordably. With hybrid NVMe and HDD storage, high concurrency support, and enterprise-level bandwidth throughput, these servers meet the demands of file-heavy, latency-sensitive environments. Whether you’re building a 3D model marketplace, an educational design hub, or a collaborative prototyping platform, OpenMetal provides:
- Massive capacity to store and version millions of STL/OBJ files
- High-speed caching and processing for previews, metadata, and user interactions
- Performance under pressure, with enough bandwidth and compute to serve global users simultaneously
- Modular growth via clustered storage architecture and flexible private cloud deployment
- Predictable costs, especially for outbound bandwidth, thanks to 95th percentile pricing
This use case highlights how OpenMetal infrastructure can enable a next-generation 3D model platform to scale with confidence, without compromising on speed, reliability, or budget.
Ready to level up your storage infrastructure without unpredictable costs?
Explore OpenMetal’s Storage Large servers and discover how hybrid storage, raw performance, and transparent bandwidth pricing can future-proof your workloads. Contact our team to schedule a consultation.
Interested in the OpenMetal IaaS Platform?
Hosted Private Cloud
Day 2 ready. No licensing costs. Delivered in 45 seconds. Powered by enterprise open source tech.
Bare Metal Servers
High end bare metal server hosting for virtualization, big data, streaming, and much more.
Consult with Our Team
Meet our experts to get a deeper assessment and discuss your unique IaaS requirements.