Database engine versions that reach end-of-standard support can significantly increase operational costs for organizations running Amazon RDS instances. Upgrading to a newer database engine version can help eliminate additional extended support fees while improving performance, security, and overall database efficiency.
Why This Policy Matters
Extended support for older database engine versions comes with substantial financial implications:
- Increased Operational Costs: Extended support can add 100-150% to existing database infrastructure expenses
- Security Risks: Older versions may lack critical security patches and updates
- Performance Limitations: Newer database engine versions offer improved performance and features
Cost Impact and Savings Potential
Real-World Cost Example
A Single Availability Zone RDS database running MySQL 5.7 with the following configuration:
- Instance Class: db.t3.large
- Storage: 20GB SSD
- Monthly Base Cost: ~$101
Extended Support Cost Breakdown:
- Additional Monthly Cost: $146
- Total Monthly Expense: $247
- Cost Increase: 140%
Potential Annual Savings: Approximately $1,752 by upgrading to a supported version
Implementation Guide
Identifying Affected Resources
Before upgrading, identify RDS instances running unsupported or soon-to-be unsupported database engine versions:
- Review AWS RDS console
- Check database engine version and support status
- Analyze compatibility with current application requirements
Infrastructure-as-Code Upgrade Example (Terraform)
# Before (Unsupported Version)
resource "aws_db_instance" "example" {
engine = "mysql"
engine_version = "5.7"
# Other configuration parameters
}
# After (Upgraded Version)
resource "aws_db_instance" "example" {
engine = "mysql"
engine_version = "8.0"
# Other configuration parameters
}Manual Upgrade Steps
- Create a database snapshot
- Test upgrade in a staging environment
- Schedule maintenance window
- Perform version upgrade
- Verify application compatibility
Best Practices
- Staged Upgrades: Implement upgrades incrementally
- Compatibility Testing: Thoroughly test application performance
- Backup: Always create a full database backup before upgrading
- Monitoring: Track performance metrics during and after upgrade
Tools and Automation
Several tools can help streamline the upgrade process:
- AWS Database Migration Service
- AWS Schema Conversion Tool
- Infracost: Identifies and helps prevent costly database configuration issues
Example Scenarios
Scenario 1: Enterprise Database
- Current Setup: MySQL 5.7 on multiple RDS instances
- Annual Extended Support Cost: $25,000
- Upgrade Investment: $5,000
- Net Savings: $20,000 per year
Scenario 2: Small to Medium Business
- Current Setup: Single RDS instance with outdated PostgreSQL version
- Monthly Extended Support Cost: $200
- Upgrade Effort: Minimal configuration changes
- Annual Savings: $2,400
Considerations and Caveats
Potential challenges during database engine upgrades:
- Application Compatibility: Some features might change
- Downtime Requirements: Upgrades may necessitate brief service interruption
- Complex Migrations: Large databases might require more complex migration strategies