As of February 4, 2025, Amazon EC2 C6in instances are now available in the Asia Pacific region, specifically Malaysia. With the launch of these sixth-generation network-optimized instances, customers can harness the power of advanced computing technologies to enhance their applications. This guide will delve into the features, specifications, and potential applications of the C6in instances, helping you understand how to effectively use them in your digital infrastructure.
What Are Amazon EC2 C6in Instances?¶
Amazon EC2, or Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud, provides scalable computing capacity in the cloud. The C6in instances are designed specifically for network-intensive workloads and applications, powered by the latest 3rd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, combined with the AWS Nitro System. This unique architecture allows the C6in instances to provide significant improvements in network performance, making them suitable for various applications including network appliances, data analytics, and machine learning workloads.
Key Features of EC2 C6in Instances¶
- Network Performance: C6in instances provide up to 200 Gbps of network bandwidth, doubling the network performance compared to the earlier fifth-generation instances.
- High Throughput: These instances deliver up to 100 Gbps of Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) bandwidth, as well as up to 400,000 I/O operations per second (IOPS).
- Elastic Fabric Adapter (EFA): EFA is supported on the larger instance sizes (32xlarge and metal), enabling lower latency and higher throughput networking which is critical for high-performance computing workloads.
- Scalability: The C6in instances are available in 10 different sizes with a maximum of 128 vCPUs, providing flexibility for any workload size.
- Bare Metal: C6in instances include a bare metal option, allowing users to access the full hardware capabilities without the virtualization layer.
Use Cases for C6in Instances¶
The versatility of C6in instances makes them suitable for a variety of applications. Below are some typical use cases:
1. Network Virtual Appliances¶
C6in instances can be effectively utilized for deploying network virtual appliances such as firewalls, virtual routers, and load balancers. With superior network bandwidth, these instances can manage increased traffic loads and ensure overall network reliability.
2. Telco 5G User Plane Function (UPF)¶
In the telecommunications sector, 5G User Plane Function (UPF) workloads can be optimized with C6in instances, allowing telecom operators to leverage the benefits of 5G networks more effectively.
3. Data Analytics¶
The high performance and scalability of C6in instances allow businesses to run large-scale data analytics workloads seamlessly. The instances can handle large datasets and complex computations, which is essential for gaining insights from big data.
4. High-Performance Computing (HPC)¶
HPC applications, such as simulations, weather forecasting, or scientific research, can benefit from the high computational power and network capabilities of C6in instances. The EFA support allows for efficient communication between instances, which is crucial for distributed computing tasks.
5. AI/ML Workloads¶
C6in instances are also well-suited for CPU-based AI and machine learning workloads. The combination of high processing power and efficient I/O operations makes them ideal for training models and processing large datasets.
Technical Specifications of C6in Instances¶
To better assess the performance and capabilities of C6in instances, here are their detailed technical specifications:
Instance Types and Sizes¶
C6in instances are available in a variety of sizes offering different combinations of vCPU and memory:
| Instance Type | vCPUs | Memory (GiB) | Network Bandwidth | EBS Bandwidth | IOPS |
|—————|——-|————–|——————-|——————-|———-|
| c6in.large | 2 | 4 | Up to 12 Gbps | Up to 3,500 Mbps | 32,000 |
| c6in.xlarge | 4 | 8 | Up to 12 Gbps | Up to 3,500 Mbps | 32,000 |
| c6in.2xlarge | 8 | 16 | Up to 20 Gbps | Up to 7,500 Mbps | 64,000 |
| c6in.4xlarge | 16 | 32 | Up to 30 Gbps | Up to 15,000 Mbps | 128,000 |
| c6in.12xlarge | 48 | 96 | Up to 100 Gbps | Up to 60,000 Mbps | 240,000 |
| c6in.32xlarge | 128 | 256 | Up to 200 Gbps | Up to 100,000 Mbps| 400,000 |
| c6in.metal | 128 | 256 | Up to 200 Gbps | Up to 100,000 Mbps| 400,000 |
Processor¶
- 3rd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable Processor: The C6in instances utilize the latest generation of Intel processors, offering superior performance, memory bandwidth, and energy efficiency.
Networking Features¶
- AWS Nitro System: This innovative technology separates compute, storage, and networking resources, improving performance and security.
- Enhanced Networking with EFA: Provides low latency and high throughput, ideal for applications requiring tight coupling between instances.
Storage Options¶
- Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS): C6in instances can be paired with EBS volumes, providing persistent block storage for your instances.
Pricing Structure¶
Understanding the pricing model for EC2 instances is pivotal for budgeting purposes. Pricing is primarily based on a per-hour or per-second (depending on the operating system) rate, and varies by instance type, size, and region.
On-Demand Pricing¶
- Users pay for compute capacity by the hour or second, depending on the chosen instance types.
Reserved Instances¶
- Commit to a one or three-year term and save up to 75%