Upgrading from t2 to t3 instances in Amazon RDS can deliver up to 30% better CPU performance at the same price point, presenting a compelling opportunity for cost optimization and improved database performance.
Why This Policy Matters
Performance and Cost Benefits
- Improved CPU Performance: t3 instances offer substantial performance improvements over t2
- Cost Optimization: Same price point with better hardware capabilities
- Modern Infrastructure: Leveraging latest generation hardware
Key Performance Improvements
- Up to 30% higher CPU performance
- More efficient processor architecture
- Enhanced virtualization capabilities
- Better burst performance characteristics
Implementation Guide
Identifying Existing t2 Instances
To identify t2 instances in your RDS environment:
- Review AWS Management Console
- Check Terraform or CloudFormation configurations
- Use AWS CLI to list existing RDS instances
Infrastructure-as-Code Example (Terraform)
Before:
resource "aws_db_instance" "example" {
instance_class = "db.t2.medium"
# Other configuration parameters
}After:
resource "aws_db_instance" "example" {
instance_class = "db.t3.medium"
# Other configuration parameters
}Manual Migration Steps
- Create snapshot of existing t2 instance
- Restore snapshot to new t3 instance
- Verify application compatibility
- Switch traffic to new instance
- Decommission old t2 instance
Infracost Integration
Infracost can help you:
- Automatically detect t2 instances
- Estimate potential cost savings
- Preview migration costs before implementation
- Include this policy in automated checks during infrastructure review
Cost Savings Potential
Estimated Savings Scenario
Example: Medium-sized database
- Current: db.t2.medium ($X/month)
- Upgraded: db.t3.medium (Same cost, 30% performance boost)
- Annual Savings: Performance efficiency without additional cost
Calculation Factors
- Instance size
- Workload characteristics
- Burst credit utilization
- Application performance requirements
Considerations and Caveats
Potential Limitations
- Verify application compatibility
- Test performance before full migration
- Some legacy applications might require additional tuning
Compatibility Checks
- Review application performance metrics
- Test database performance under load
- Validate connection string and driver compatibility
Real-World Examples
Scenario 1: Web Application Database
A mid-sized e-commerce platform migrated from t2.medium to t3.medium:
- Reduced latency by 25%
- Maintained same monthly infrastructure cost
- Improved overall user experience
Scenario 2: Analytics Database
A data analytics company transitioned RDS instances:
- Achieved better query performance
- Reduced CPU wait times
- No additional infrastructure expenses
Best Practices
- Gradually migrate instances
- Use AWS Database Migration Service
- Perform thorough testing
- Monitor performance post-migration