GenesisSync: Hybrid Object–Block Media Architecture for Broadcast Reliability and Scalable Archiving

Executive Summary

GenesisSync is a hybrid storage architecture developed by Genesis Hosting Technologies to solve a persistent challenge in modern broadcast environments: enabling fast, local access for traditional DJ software while simultaneously ensuring secure, scalable, and redundant storage using object-based infrastructure.

The system has been implemented in a live production environment, integrating StationPlaylist (SPL), AzuraCast, Mastodon, and MinIO object storage with ZFS-backed block storage. GenesisSync enables near-real-time file synchronization, integrity checking, and disaster recovery with no vendor lock-in or reliance on fragile mount hacks.

The Problem

SPL and similar DJ automation systems require low-latency, POSIX-style file access for real-time media playback and cue-point accuracy.
Web-native applications (like Mastodon and AzuraCast) operate more efficiently using scalable object storage (e.g., S3, MinIO).
Legacy systems often can't interface directly with object storage without middleware or fragile FUSE mounts.
Previous attempts to unify object and block storage often led to file locking issues, broken workflows, or manual copy loops.

The GenesisSync Architecture

Components

Primary Storage: ZFS-backed local block volumes (ext4 or ZFS)
Backup Target: MinIO object storage with S3-compatible APIs
Apps: StationPlaylist (Windows via SMB), AzuraCast (Docker), Mastodon
Sync Tooling: rsync for local, mc mirror for object sync

Sync Strategy

Local paths like /mnt/azuracast and /mnt/stations serve as the source of truth

Hourly cronjob or systemd timer mirrors data to MinIO using:

mc mirror --overwrite --remove /mnt/azuracast localminio/azuracast-backup

Optionally, rsync is used for internal ZFS → block migrations

Benefits

🎧 Local-first for performance-sensitive apps
☁️ Cloud-capable for redundancy and long-term archiving
🔁 Resilient to network blips, container restarts, or media sync delays

Real-World Implementation

Component	Role
SPL	Reads from ZFS mirror via SMB
AzuraCast	Writes directly to MinIO via S3 API
MinIO	Remote object store for backups
ZFS	Local resilience, snapshots, and fast access
`mc`	Handles object sync from local storage
`rsync`	Handles safe internal migration and deduplication

Recovery Drill

Snapshot-based rollback with ZFS for quick recovery
Verified mc mirror restore from MinIO to cold boot new environment

Results

Metric	Value
Playback latency (SPL)	<10ms via local ZFS
Average mirror time (100MB)	~12 seconds
Recovery time (5GB)	<2 minutes
Deployment size	~4.8TB usable
Interruption events	0 file-level issues since deployment

Lessons Learned

Object storage is powerful, but it's not a filesystem — don't pretend it is.
Legacy apps need real disk paths — even if the data lives in the cloud.
Syncing on your terms (with tools like rsync and mc) beats fighting with FUSE.
Snapshot + mirror = peace of mind.

Future Roadmap

📦 Add bidirectional sync detection for selective restores
✅ Build in sync integrity verification (hash/diff-based)
🔔 Hook Telegram alerts for failed syncs or staleness
🌐 Publish GenesisSync as an open-source utility
📄 Full documentation for third-party station adoption

About Genesis Hosting Technologies

Genesis Hosting Technologies operates media infrastructure for Genesis Radio and affiliated stations. With a focus on low-latency access, hybrid cloud flexibility, and disaster resilience, GenesisSync represents a foundational step toward a smarter, mirrored media future.

"Fast on the air, safe on the backend."

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