Upgrading to the latest generation of Amazon EC2 i-series instances can significantly reduce infrastructure costs while improving performance and efficiency.
Why Upgrading Matters
Amazon’s latest generation EC2 i-family instances offer substantial improvements over previous generations:
Performance Boost: Over 4x higher I/O performance
Disk Throughput: More than 2x improved throughput
Storage Efficiency: 18% more SSD per CPU
Cost Optimization: Dramatically lower pricing
Concrete Cost Comparison Example
Instance TypeMemoryvCPUsMonthly CostCost Difference i2.xlarge30.5 GiB4$622–i3.xlarge30.5 GiB4$22763% savings
Detailed Implementation Guide
Infrastructure-as-Code Example (Terraform)
Before:
resource "aws_instance" "legacy_instance" {
instance_type = "i2.xlarge"
# Other configuration parameters
}
After:
resource "aws_instance" "optimized_instance" {
instance_type = "i3.xlarge"
# Other configuration parameters
}
Manual Migration Steps
Assessment
Inventory current i-family instances
Review workload compatibility
Validate performance requirements
Planning
Select appropriate next-generation instance type
Test compatibility in staging environment
Prepare migration strategy
Migration
Create new instances
Migrate data and configurations
Validate performance
Terminate legacy instances
Best Practices
Gradual Migration: Implement changes incrementally
Performance Testing: Benchmark before and after upgrades
Cost Tracking: Monitor total cost of ownership
Regular Review: Assess instance generations annually
Recommended Tools
AWS Cost Explorer
AWS Compute Optimizer
Infracost: Automatically detect and recommend instance upgrades during infrastructure planning
Real-World Scenarios
Scenario 1: Database Hosting
A media company running PostgreSQL on i2.xlarge instances reduced monthly infrastructure costs by $395 per instance by migrating to i3.xlarge.
Scenario 2: High-Performance Computing
Scientific research team upgraded from i2 to i3 instances, achieving 40% performance improvement with 60% cost reduction.
Considerations and Caveats
Compatibility: Ensure application supports new instance type
Data Migration: Plan for potential data transfer
Licensing: Verify software licensing terms
Complex Workloads: Some specialized workloads might require custom evaluation
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How often should I evaluate instance generations?
Recommend reviewing every 12-18 months as AWS regularly introduces more efficient instances.
Are there risks in migrating instances?
Minimal risks if proper testing and staged migration are implemented. Always test in staging before production.
Do all workloads benefit from newer instances?
Not universally. Some specialized or legacy applications might require careful evaluation.
How quickly can I realize cost savings?
Typically, immediate cost reduction upon migration, with potential performance improvements.
Is the migration process complex?
Generally straightforward for standard workloads. Complex environments might require more detailed planning.
Create Free Account
This policy is supported in Infracost and available in the free trial. Sign up today and scan your code using our entire library of FinOps policies.