RDS DB instance storage
When you use Amazon RDS (Relational Database Service), you have different choices for storing your data. Let's take a closer look at each option:
Magnetic Storage
- What it is: Magnetic storage is one of the storage options provided by Amazon RDS. It's been around for a while and is there mainly for compatibility reasons.
- Limitations:
- Doesn't scale automatically: Unlike some other options, magnetic storage doesn't automatically adjust its size based on your needs. You have to manage it manually.
- Size limit: You can't have more than 3 TiB (Terabytes) of data stored in magnetic storage.
- Speed: It can handle up to 1,000 IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second), which might be too slow for some demanding applications.
- Recommendation: Amazon suggests not using magnetic storage unless you really need to because of these limitations.
General Purpose SSD
- What it is: General Purpose SSD (Solid State Drive) storage is another option provided by Amazon RDS. It's a more modern and versatile choice.
- Advantages:
- Cost-effective: It offers good performance at a reasonable cost, making it a popular choice for many types of applications.
- Best Use Cases: It's great for tasks like development and testing where you don't need the fastest speeds but still want reliable storage.
Provisioned IOPS SSD
- What it is: Provisioned IOPS SSD storage is the top-tier option for Amazon RDS. It's designed for applications that need high-speed and consistent performance.
- Advantages:
- Fast and reliable: It provides fast and consistent performance, which is crucial for production environments where reliability is essential.
- Best Use Cases: If your application demands high-speed and reliable storage, especially in production environments, this is the option for you.
Comparison Table
| Characteristic | Provisioned IOPS (io1) | General Purpose (gp3) | General Purpose (gp2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum throughput | Scales based on Provisioned IOPS up to 4,000 MB/s | Provision additional throughput up to 4,000 MB/s | 1000 MB/s (250 MB/s on RDS for SQL Server) |
| Maximum IOPS | 256,000 (64,000 on RDS for SQL Server) | 64,000 (16,000 on RDS for SQL Server) | 16,000 |
| Volume size | 100 GiB–64 TiB | 20 GiB–64 TiB | 20 GiB–64 TiB |