Migrate from older r3 OpenSearch instances to r5 instances to achieve better performance, enhanced security features, and reduced monthly expenses.
Detailed Explanation
Why This Policy Matters
Staying current with instance generations is crucial for:
- Optimizing cloud infrastructure costs
- Improving overall system performance
- Accessing the latest security and feature improvements
Cost Reduction Insights
By upgrading from r3 to r5 OpenSearch instances, organizations can realize:
- Performance Improvements: Higher-performing CPUs
- Cost Savings: Lower price points for equivalent or better specifications
- Enhanced Features: Built-in encryption and access control
Potential Savings Breakdown
Let’s compare two instance types:
r3.4xlarge.search:
- 122 GiB Memory
- 16 vCPUs
- Monthly Cost: $1,431
r5.4xlarge.search:
- 128 GiB Memory
- 16 vCPUs
- Monthly Cost: $1,086
Key Savings:
- Cost Reduction: 24% monthly
- Memory Increase: 6 GiB additional memory
- Performance: More modern architecture
Implementation Guide
Infrastructure-as-Code Update Example (Terraform)
resource "aws_opensearch_domain" "example" {
# Existing configuration
# Update instance type
- instance_type = "r3.4xlarge.search"
+ instance_type = "r5.4xlarge.search"
# Additional recommended configurations
encrypt_at_rest {
enabled = true
}
advanced_security_options {
enabled = true
}
}Manual Migration Steps
- Backup existing OpenSearch domain data
- Create a snapshot of the current configuration
- Provision a new R5 instance cluster
- Migrate data to the new cluster
- Update DNS/connection strings
- Decommission old R3 instances
Best Practices
- Gradual Migration: Use blue/green deployment strategies
- Performance Testing: Validate performance before full cutover
- Cost Monitoring: Use tools like Infracost to estimate and track savings
- Compliance Check: Ensure new instances meet security requirements
Implementation Tools
- Infracost: Helps estimate and prevent costly infrastructure configurations
- AWS Migration Tools: Support smooth instance type transitions
- CloudWatch: Monitor performance during and after migration
Example Scenarios
Scenario 1: Media Streaming Platform
A media streaming service running multiple R3 instances can save $50,000+ annually by upgrading to r5 instances.
Scenario 2: E-commerce Analytics
An e-commerce company reduced OpenSearch infrastructure costs by 28% while improving search query performance.
Considerations and Caveats
Potential Drawbacks
- Temporary service interruption during migration
- Potential compatibility issues with legacy configurations
- Initial migration overhead
Not Recommended When
- Extremely stable legacy systems with complex dependencies
- Strict change management processes
- Immediate migration isn’t financially justified