Amazon EC2 I4i instances, previously launched in various regions including the US East, South America, Asia Pacific, and more, are now a fresh addition to Amazon’s Europe (Zurich) region. Designed for prime databases like MySQL, Oracle DB, and Microsoft SQL server, as well as for NoSQL databases like MongoDB, Couchbase, Aerospike, and Redis, these instances are an ideal solution for database workloads that necessitate low latency local NVMe storage to meet defined application service level agreements (SLAs).
What are Amazon EC2 I4i instances?¶
Beginning with what Amazon EC2 instances are, Amazon EC2 (Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud) is an integral part of Amazon’s cloud-computing platform, Amazon Web Services (AWS). Notably, an “instance” denotes a virtual server for running applications on AWS’s infrastructure. And among the varied types of instances offered, I4i instances are a particularly useful variant.
Tailored for memory-intensive and storage-focused applications, these instances utilize a direct path to the processor and memory that dip latency and up overall system performance. They thus endow AWS users with high-speed storage options and the potential to kindle I/O-intensive databases.
Why are they essential for databases?¶
For the smooth running of database applications and to maintain the requisite speed, you need a strong and reliable infrastructure. This necessity is precisely what Amazon EC2 I4i instances deliver. They are designed to provide high-speed storage and low network latency, which allows databases to process vast amounts of data with minimal delay.
The key databases that Amazon EC2 I4i instances are designed for are:
- MySQL
- Oracle DB
- Microsoft SQL
- NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Couchbase, Aerospike, and Redis)
Being both SQL and NoSQL-friendly, these instances are versatile as they cater to both relational and non-relational databases.
Available Sizes of I4i instances¶
According to the particular needs of your application and the size of your workload, you can select from eight particular sizes of I4i instances:
- i4i.large
- i4i.xlarge
- i4i.2xlarge
- i4i.4xlarge
- i4i.8xlarge
- i4i.16xlarge
- i4i.32xlarge
- i4i.metal
These classes offer a hierarchy of storage and processing power that can address diverse workloads, from small applications to large-scale, enterprise-level database systems.
Benefits of I4i instances¶
I4i instances are engineered to offer numerous advantages, which cover the following:
Superior Storage and Speed¶
These instances offer NVMe SSD storage that is both high-capacity and high-speed, enabling applications to interact with data swiftly, in turn, boosting overall performance.
Broad Database Compatibility¶
With support for leading SQL and NoSQL databases such as MySQL, Oracle DB, Microsoft SQL Server, MongoDB, Couchbase, Aerospike, and Redis, these instances can seamlessly adapt to different database systems.
Scalability¶
With the eight available instance sizes, businesses can scale their applications to handle expanded loads smartly, as per the needs.
Pricing Efficiency¶
The instance pricing is defined per hour, giving users the flexibility to operate applications for the required timeframe.
Region Expansion¶
I4i instances are now available in the Europe (Zurich) region, thus providing European users with multiple benefits, including speedier access and increased regulatory compliance.
Conclusion¶
In summary, the availability of Amazon EC2 I4i instances in the Europe (Zurich) region gives businesses an essential tool to power high-performance applications that require low latency local NVMe storage. Its support for both SQL and NoSQL databases underlines its versatility and capability to handle diverse database workloads. Whether considering upgrading existing applications or launching new ones, businesses in and around Zurich now have another potent arrow in their quiver. High-speed storage, formidable processing power, substantial scalability, and now—widespread accessibility make Amazon EC2 I4i instances a significant enabler for businesses ready to embrace database and application excellence.