Amazon OpenSearch service users can significantly reduce infrastructure costs by strategically upgrading to the latest generation i-family instances. Switching from i2 to i3 instances offers improved performance and substantial cost savings.
Why This Policy Matters
Upgrading OpenSearch instances is crucial for:
- Cost Optimization: Achieve up to 58% cost reduction
- Performance Enhancement: Gain 4x higher I/O performance
- Infrastructure Efficiency: Leverage more advanced hardware technologies
Detailed Cost and Performance Analysis
Performance Comparison: i2 vs i3 Instances
| Instance Type | Memory | vCPUs | Monthly Cost | Performance Boost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| i2.2xlarge.search | 122 GiB | 16 | $1,743 | Baseline |
| i3.2xlarge.search | 122 GiB | 16 | $729 | 4x I/O Performance |
Key Highlights:
- 58% cost reduction
- 2x higher disk throughput
- Equivalent computational resources
Implementation Guide
Infrastructure as Code Example (Terraform)
# Before (Inefficient Configuration)
resource "aws_elasticsearch_domain" "example" {
domain_name = "legacy-search"
cluster_config {
instance_type = "i2.2xlarge.search"
}
}
# After (Optimized Configuration)
resource "aws_elasticsearch_domain" "example" {
domain_name = "modern-search"
cluster_config {
instance_type = "i3.2xlarge.search"
}
}Manual Migration Steps
- Assess current OpenSearch cluster configuration
- Validate workload compatibility with i3 instances
- Create a migration plan
- Perform a staged rollout
- Monitor performance and cost metrics
Best Practices
- Gradual Migration: Implement changes in phases
- Performance Testing: Validate workload compatibility
- Cost Tracking: Monitor actual savings post-migration
Tools for Implementation
Recommended Tools:
- Infracost: Automatically detect and estimate savings for OpenSearch instance upgrades
- AWS Cost Explorer
- AWS Migration Hub
Real-World Scenarios
Scenario 1: E-commerce Search Platform
- Before: Running multiple i2.2xlarge.search instances
- After: Migrated to i3.2xlarge.search
- Result: 50% infrastructure cost reduction, improved search response times
Scenario 2: Log Analytics Infrastructure
- Initial State: Legacy i2 instances with high operational costs
- Transformation: Comprehensive i3 instance upgrade
- Outcome: Enhanced performance, significant cost savings
Considerations and Caveats
Potential Challenges:
- Temporary service disruption during migration
- Compatibility requirements with existing workloads
- Data migration complexity
Not Recommended When:
- Workloads have specific performance dependencies
- Migration costs outweigh potential savings
- Strict compliance requirements limit upgrades