
Amazon S3 Replication is a powerful feature that allows you to replicate all objects from one bucket to another, either within the same region or across different regions. This is a game-changer for businesses that need to ensure data consistency and availability across multiple locations.
Replicating all objects in Amazon S3 can be done in real-time, which means your data is always up-to-date and synchronized across all locations. This is especially useful for applications that require low latency and high availability.
Amazon S3 Replication is also highly customizable, allowing you to replicate objects based on specific criteria, such as object key, prefix, and suffix. This means you can replicate only the objects that are relevant to your business needs.
By replicating all objects in Amazon S3, you can ensure that your data is always available and accessible, regardless of where you are in the world. This is especially important for businesses that operate globally and need to access data from multiple locations.
Recommended read: How to Replicate a S3 Bucket
What Is AWS S3 Replication
AWS S3 Replication is a powerful feature that allows you to replicate objects between buckets, giving you the flexibility and control you need to meet your data sovereignty and business needs.
There are two types of replication: Same account replication and Cross account replication, which differ only in that the latter requires providing the destination account number and bucket name.
You can choose to replicate all objects in the bucket, including whatever you upload to the source bucket, to the destination bucket.
To replicate objects, you'll need to choose the destination bucket, which can be in the same account or a different one.
In addition to replicating objects, you can also replicate object metadata from the source object to the replicas.
The following types of objects are replicated with the AWS S3 replication configuration rule:
- The objects uploaded after you create the replication configuration are replicated automatically.
- Object’s metadata from the source object to the replicas.
- Only objects in the source bucket for which the bucket owner has permissions to read objects and access control lists (ACLs).
- Object tags and S3 Object Lock retention information, if any.
Replication is an asynchronous process, but you can use Replication Time Control (RTC) to replicate contents from source to destination within a specific time bound, which comes with an extra cost.
Configuring Replication
To configure replication, you'll need to specify the source and destination buckets. The source bucket is the bucket from which you want to replicate objects, and the destination bucket is the bucket to which you want to replicate objects.
To create a replication configuration, you'll need to specify the bucket name, checksum algorithm, replication configuration, and other settings. The replication configuration is a container for replication rules, and you can add up to 1,000 rules.
You can also specify additional settings, such as Replication Time Control (RTC), which helps replicate contents from source to destination within a specific time bound, but this comes with an extra cost.
Here's a summary of the required settings:
To complete the replication configuration, make sure to add the proper IAM roles and policies for the replication to take place.
Replication Types
S3 Replication offers two types of replication: Same-Region Replication and Cross-Region Replication. Same-Region Replication is used to copy objects across S3 buckets in the same AWS Regions.
Worth a look: Aws S3 Cross Region Replication
There are also two types of S3 Replication: Same account replication and Cross account replication. In Same account replication, the destination account and bucket name are specified.
Cross-Region Replication can be useful in scenarios where data needs to be replicated across different AWS Regions. Same-Region Replication can be useful for scenarios such as data backup and disaster recovery.
Here are the two types of S3 Replication summarized in a table:
Both types of replication can be used to replicate all or a subset of objects with specific key name prefixes.
Request Syntax
To configure replication, you'll need to understand the request syntax. The name of the bucket is a required field, so make sure to provide the correct name.
The ChecksumAlgorithm is also a required field, but it's only necessary if you're using the SDK. If you're not using the SDK, this field won't provide any additional functionality.
A replication configuration is also a required field, and it can contain up to 1,000 rules. The maximum size of a replication configuration is 2 MB.
Broaden your view: Aws S3 Sdk

You can also provide a token to allow Object Lock to be enabled for an existing bucket. However, if the account ID you provide doesn't match the actual owner of the bucket, the request will fail with a 403 Forbidden error.
Here's a breakdown of the required fields:
- Bucket (string) - The name of the bucket
- ChecksumAlgorithm (string) - The algorithm used to create the checksum for the request
- ReplicationConfiguration (dict) - A container for replication rules
Configuring AWS S3 Same Region Replication
Configuring AWS S3 Same Region Replication is a straightforward process. You can replicate objects across S3 buckets in the same AWS Region using S3 Same-Region Replication – SRR.
To enable SRR, you'll need to create a replication configuration rule. This rule determines which objects are replicated and to which destination bucket. You can choose to replicate all objects or a subset of objects with specific key name prefixes.
S3 can replicate all or a subset of objects with specific key name prefixes. This means you can choose to replicate only certain objects, such as those with a specific prefix or suffix.
A different take: Aws S3 List Objects
Object replicas in the destination bucket are exact replicas of the objects in the source bucket with the same key names and the same metadata. This ensures that the replicated objects are identical to the originals.
You can replicate objects to a single destination bucket or multiple destination buckets. This flexibility allows you to set up replication to meet your specific needs.
Here are some key things to keep in mind when configuring SRR:
- Objects may be replicated to a single destination bucket or multiple destination buckets.
- Object replicas in the destination bucket are exact replicas of the objects in the source bucket with the same key names and the same metadata.
- You can replicate all or a subset of objects with specific key name prefixes.
- S3 encrypts all data in transit across AWS regions using SSL.
By following these steps and considering these key points, you can set up S3 Same Region Replication to meet your needs.
Setting Up Replication
Setting up replication in Amazon S3 is a straightforward process. You can replicate all or a subset of objects with specific key name prefixes.
To get started, you need to enable replication on the source bucket. This will allow you to specify the destination bucket where you want to replicate the objects.
You can replicate objects to a single destination bucket or multiple destination buckets. This gives you flexibility in terms of where you want to store your data.
To replicate objects across different AWS regions, you'll need to use S3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR). This is useful for scenarios such as disaster recovery or data archiving.
On the other hand, if you want to replicate objects within the same AWS region, you can use S3 Same-Region Replication (SRR). This is useful for scenarios such as data backup or load balancing.
Here's a summary of the replication options:
Remember to encrypt all data in transit across AWS regions using SSL for secure replication. This ensures that your data remains secure and confidential during replication.
A different take: Data Lake on S3
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Amazon S3 replicate all objects?
Amazon S3 replicates objects automatically across different AWS Regions using S3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR) or between buckets in the same Region using S3 Same-Region Replication (SRR). This process ensures seamless data replication and availability across multiple locations.
Is S3 globally replicated?
No, S3 is not globally replicated, but rather regional to ensure data sovereignty and disaster recovery. Data is stored in the region you choose, with options for cross-region replication for added redundancy.
Does S3 have replicas?
Yes, Amazon S3 has a feature called replication that automatically copies objects across buckets. You can replicate objects to one or multiple destination buckets, even if they're owned by different AWS accounts.
Sources
- https://medium.com/@vgprash24/aws-s3-replication-59606d6fae3b
- https://jayendrapatil.com/category/aws/s3/
- https://boto3.amazonaws.com/v1/documentation/api/latest/reference/services/s3/client/put_bucket_replication.html
- https://dev.to/mariem/cross-account-s3-replication-encrypted-and-non-encrypted-objects-3e2e
- https://medium.datadriveninvestor.com/aws-s3-same-region-replication-bb0f3964b79e
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