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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsBoth Garage and RustFS can provide an S3-compatible endpoint from one machine, but neither makes that machine highly available. The key difference is how they handle storage: Garage’s documented single-node quick start uses one replica and offers no data redundancy, while RustFS also documents a one-server, multi-disk mode with limited protection against disk failures. Neither protects against losing the whole server. Choose based on the failures you need to tolerate, how you will persist and back up data, and whether your application’s specific S3 operations work.
What “single node” means for each product
A single-node deployment keeps the service on one server, so a server failure can take the S3 endpoint offline. Depending on the storage layout, a disk failure may also destroy data. Disk redundancy and backups address different risks: redundancy may keep a service operating after some disk failures, while an independent backup provides a recovery path if the server or its storage is lost.
| Deployment | Documented layout | Failure tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| Garage single-node quick start | One server; example configuration sets replication_factor = 1. |
No data redundancy in this configuration; Garage says this deployment should not be used in production because it provides no redundancy for data. |
| RustFS SNSD | One server, one data disk. | No redundancy; RustFS positions it for development, testing, and low-density non-critical business, with backups needed for disk failure. |
| RustFS SNMD | One server, multiple data disks. | Erasure coding offers limited disk-failure tolerance, but not protection from whole-server failure. |
| RustFS MNMD | Four or more servers. | Distributed mode intended for disk- and node-level fault tolerance and horizontal scaling; it is not a single-node option. |
These are product deployment specifications, not measured reliability rates. RustFS mode definitions come from its Linux installation guide; Garage’s single-node configuration and warning are in its Quick Start.
Garage: a straightforward single-node path, with explicit limits
Garage’s official Quick Start describes deploying it as a single-node server. Its example uses SQLite, local data and metadata directories, an S3 API listener, and separate web and admin listeners. The example is useful for understanding the components, but its /tmp paths are temporary: the guide warns that files there disappear on reboot. For retained data, choose persistent local-disk paths and, if using containers, persist both data and metadata volumes.
Starting Garage
The Quick Start gives the command garage server --single-node --default-bucket for automatic setup and says these flags are available since Garage v2.3.0. Older releases require manual configuration. Check the documentation for the Garage version you install, since setup behavior is version-sensitive.
The same guide demonstrates creating a bucket and uploading and downloading objects with the AWS CLI. It also says some S3 features are not implemented, including ACL and policy. If an application depends on those operations—or on particular edge-case behavior—verify them against the compatibility information and test with the actual client before moving data or relying on the service.
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RustFS: choose the mode that matches your disks
RustFS’s quick start runs SNSD by default and describes it as a zero-redundancy mode for evaluation and development. A successful quick install is therefore not evidence that the storage design is suitable for production workloads.
SNSD: one server, one disk
SNSD is the simplest layout, but it has no redundancy. RustFS documents it for development, testing, and low-density non-critical business, and says backups are needed to address disk failure. It does not protect against losing the server.
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- Purpose-Built for Data Protection – Secure NAS with 256-bit drive encryption, a closed system, and flexible replication and backup features to keep your data safe.
- Fast Data Transfers – Native 2.5GbE port for high speed file transfers with no cable upgrade needed.
- Reliable Storage with Effortless Setup – Hard drives included and RAID pre-configured for hassle-free, out-of-the-box protection, and can be changed to other RAID modes to best suit your needs.
- Cloud Integration – Sync with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure and OneDrive to create a hybrid cloud for extra data security, cost savings, and flexible scalability.
SNMD: one server, multiple disks
SNMD uses multiple data disks in one server. RustFS says erasure coding provides limited protection against disk failures. That does not remove the server as a single failure domain: a server failure can still mean data loss. Plan backups and recovery around that distinction rather than treating multiple disks as a substitute for another copy elsewhere.
MNMD: distributed, not single-node
RustFS documents MNMD for four or more servers. It is the option among these modes intended for node-level tolerance and horizontal scaling, but requires a multi-server design. If the requirement is strictly one machine, MNMD is outside the comparison.
RustFS describes broad S3 API compatibility and read-after-write consistency in both single-machine and distributed modes in its architecture documentation. Those are project claims, not independent verification of every operation for every client. Use the RustFS project overview alongside the version-specific docs, then test the application’s own required behavior.
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How to choose for a one-machine deployment
- If one disk and one server are acceptable risks: either product has a single-machine path, but treat it as a non-redundant design and maintain independent backups.
- If you want protection from some disk failures while staying on one server: RustFS SNMD is the documented fit. It still does not address whole-server loss.
- If the server itself must not be a single failure point: a single-node Garage or RustFS deployment does not meet that requirement. Consider a multi-node topology; RustFS documents MNMD for four or more servers, and Garage’s Quick Start directs users to its cluster guide for multi-node deployment.
- If compatibility is the deciding factor: list the exact S3 actions, authentication, and behavior your application requires; run those tests with the selected product and version. “S3-compatible” does not mean identical behavior across implementations.
- If performance is the deciding factor: the documentation reviewed here does not establish a same-hardware, same-workload comparison. Do not infer that either product is faster from these deployment guides.
Before putting data on the server
- Decide what failures you must survive. Separate disk failure, whole-server failure, and loss of the endpoint; select a topology that addresses the relevant risk.
- Use persistent storage paths. For Garage, replace the Quick Start’s temporary
/tmplocations with persistent paths and persist both data and metadata volumes in a container deployment. Configure RustFS against the intended data drives. - Make backups independent of the server. Disk-level redundancy does not protect against server loss, accidental deletion, or other failures affecting the whole machine. Establish and test a restore procedure.
- Test application operations before migration. Exercise the actual client and required S3 operations, including any ACL or policy use with Garage, against the exact deployed versions.
- Recheck version-specific guidance. Garage’s automatic single-node flags are documented for v2.3.0 and later; RustFS mode recommendations and compatibility coverage can change by release.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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