Storage Overview

Now that you have Lombok running, configure storage to connect your data to S3-compatible backends. Lombok’s flexible storage architecture lets you connect to any S3-compatible provider while managing everything through a unified interface.

How Storage Works in Lombok

Lombok uses a three-tier architecture to manage storage:

1. Folders - User-facing storage containers that organize files
2. Storage Provisions - Admin-configured connections to S3-compatible backends
3. S3 Providers - Cloud storage services (AWS S3, Cloudflare R2, Backblaze B2, etc.)

The flow is simple: Users create folders to store files. Each folder connects to a storage provision that you configured. That provision connects to your chosen S3-compatible provider.

This separation means users don’t need to know about S3 credentials or bucket names - they just create folders and upload files. You handle the backend configuration.

Storage Provisions

A storage provision is an admin-configured connection to an S3-compatible storage backend. Think of it as a bridge between Lombok and your cloud storage.

When you create a storage provision, you configure:

• Which S3-compatible provider to use
• Bucket name
• Access credentials
• Region and endpoint URL

Once configured, you can connect multiple folders to the same provision, or create different provisions for different use cases (development vs production, different regions, different providers).

You need at least one storage provision before users can create folders and upload files.

Setting Up Your First Storage Provision

Storage provisions are configured through the Lombok admin interface. Here’s how to set one up:

1. Access the admin panel - Navigate to the Admin section in Lombok

2. Go to Storage - Find the Storage Provisions section

3. Add Provision - Click “Add Storage Provision” or similar button

4. Configure the connection:

   Field	Description	Example
   Name	Friendly name for this provision	”Production Storage” or “Development S3”
   Provider Type	S3-compatible provider	AWS S3, Cloudflare R2, Backblaze B2, etc.
   Bucket Name	Your S3 bucket name	YOUR_BUCKET_NAME
   Access Key	S3 access key ID	YOUR_ACCESS_KEY
   Secret Key	S3 secret access key	YOUR_SECRET_KEY
   Region	Provider region	us-east-1, auto, etc.
   Endpoint URL	Provider endpoint (for non-AWS)	https://[account-id].r2.cloudflarestorage.com

5. Test the connection - Most providers have a “Test Connection” button to verify credentials

6. Save the provision - Once tested, save it for use with folders

Tip

Start with a test bucket first to verify your configuration before connecting production data. You can always create additional provisions later.

Caution

Keep your S3 credentials secure. Never commit them to version control or share them publicly. Store them in environment variables or a secrets manager.

Provider-Specific Configuration

Different providers require slightly different configurations:

• AWS S3 - Requires region, no endpoint URL needed
• Cloudflare R2 - Requires endpoint URL with your account ID, region is usually auto
• Backblaze B2 - Requires S3-compatible endpoint URL from your B2 account
• DigitalOcean Spaces - Requires region-specific endpoint (e.g., https://nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com)
• MinIO - Requires your self-hosted endpoint URL

For detailed information on each provider, including pricing and use cases, see the S3 Providers page.

Managing Folders

Once you have a storage provision configured, users can create folders that connect to it.

Folders are the user-facing way to organize and access storage. When creating a folder, users (or admins) specify:

• Folder name
• Which storage provision to use
• Access permissions

Folders can be created through:

• The Lombok web UI (most common)
• The API (for programmatic management)
• Admin panel (for pre-configured folders)

All files uploaded to a folder are stored in the connected storage provision’s S3 bucket. Lombok handles the S3 API calls transparently - users just drag and drop files or use the API.

Next Steps

• Choose a provider - See the S3 Providers comparison to select the best provider for your needs
• Build on storage - Learn about the App Platform to create custom storage workflows
• Understand core concepts - Review Core Concepts for how storage fits into the larger Lombok architecture