Neo4j is the most widely used graph database, designed for connected data and real-time analytics. Its performance depends heavily on how data, transaction logs, and checkpoints are stored. Slow or single-zone storage can cause query delays, replication lag, and risk during failovers.
Simplyblock provides NVMe-over-TCP storage with zone-independent volumes, ensuring Neo4j deployments remain durable, scalable, and responsive even under heavy graph workloads.
Why Neo4j Requires Reliable Storage
Neo4j maintains both a database store and transaction logs for durability. If the underlying storage is slow, query execution slows down, replication gets delayed, and recovery after failures becomes unpredictable.
By using simplyblock, Neo4j keeps its graph data and logs on high-throughput, zone-independent volumes. This allows clusters to run queries efficiently while supporting seamless failover across zones.
🚀 Use simplyblock with Neo4j for Graph Workloads
Simplyblock ensures Neo4j graphs remain durable and consistent across deployments.
👉 Use simplyblock for Kubernetes Storage →
Step 1: Setting Up a Volume for Neo4j Data
Start by provisioning a simplyblock volume to store Neo4j graph data and logs:
sbctl pool create neo4j-pool /dev/nvme0n1
sbctl volume add neo4j-store 200G neo4j-pool
sbctl volume connect neo4j-store
Format and mount the volume:
mkfs.ext4 /dev/nvme0n1
mkdir -p /var/lib/neo4j
mount /dev/nvme0n1 /var/lib/neo4j
Persist it in /etc/fstab:
/dev/nvme0n1 /var/lib/neo4j ext4 defaults 0 0
With this configuration, Neo4j writes both data files and logs to simplyblock volumes, keeping them fast and durable.
Step 2: Configuring Neo4j with Simplyblock Storage
Update Neo4j to point to the simplyblock-mounted directory. In neo4j.conf:
dbms.directories.data=/var/lib/neo4j/data
dbms.tx_log.rotation.retention_policy=7 days
Restart Neo4j:
sudo systemctl restart neo4j
This ensures all database files and transaction logs are persisted on simplyblock storage. For reference, see the Neo4j configuration settings guide.
Step 3: Scaling Neo4j Volumes for Large Graphs
As datasets grow, Neo4j graphs, indexes, and transaction logs may exceed initial volume sizes. Expand simplyblock volumes without downtime:
sbctl volume resize neo4j-store 400G
resize2fs /dev/nvme0n1
This lets Neo4j scale smoothly to larger workloads, and it aligns well with OpenNebula support.
Step 4: Ensuring Neo4j Availability Across Zones
Neo4j causal clusters often span multiple zones for high availability. Storage tied to one zone can cause failovers to fail.
With simplyblock, volumes are zone-independent, ensuring Neo4j replicas always have access to their graph store regardless of zone.
This design supports enterprise recovery strategies similar to fast backups and disaster recovery.
Step 5: Adding Storage Replication for Neo4j
Beyond Neo4j’s built-in replication, storage-level replication adds durability. With simplyblock:
sbctl volume replicate neo4j-store –zones=zone-a,zone-b
This ensures minimal RPO and RTO for Neo4j clusters. Detailed concepts are explained in the Neo4j clustering guide.
Managing Neo4j at Scale with Simplyblock
Enterprises running Neo4j require storage that is durable, high-performing, and easy to manage. Simplyblock enables provisioning, scaling, and replication with a single CLI workflow, reducing operational overhead.
Capabilities such as Proxmox VE integration make it easier to run Neo4j across environments. For deeper references, administrators can use the simplyblock Documentation.
Questions and Answers
Simplyblock accelerates Neo4j by providing NVMe-backed volumes that reduce latency and boost IOPS. This ensures faster traversal queries, graph analytics, and better scalability for large datasets.
Yes, simplyblock integrates with Kubernetes to provide persistent volumes that maintain durability for graph data. Its NVMe Kubernetes storage ensures that Neo4j workloads achieve high performance without bottlenecks.
Absolutely. With replication, snapshots, and encryption-at-rest, simplyblock enables Neo4j clusters to achieve enterprise-grade durability, ensuring continuous availability for mission-critical applications.
Traditional storage often struggles with the random I/O patterns of graph workloads. Simplyblock’s NVMe-over-TCP design provides predictable performance, while its glossary of storage concepts helps teams better understand the underlying technology.
Simplyblock allows Neo4j graph databases to run seamlessly across on-prem, private, and public clouds. This ensures consistent durability, high throughput, and simplified scaling for hybrid graph workloads.