Published on: April 10, 2025
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is continuously evolving to meet the demand of modern enterprises. Today, we’re excited to introduce two new EC2 I7ie bare metal instance sizes, offering enhanced performance and storage options for a wide range of applications. These instances stand out with their powerful features, which include 5th generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, delivering unmatched compute and storage capabilities for your most demanding workloads. This guide will delve deep into the specifications, benefits, and use cases for the new EC2 I7ie instances, which are now available in various regions, namely US East (N. Virginia, Ohio), US West (Oregon), Europe (Frankfurt, London), and Asia Pacific (Tokyo).
What Are EC2 I7ie Bare Metal Instances?¶
The introduction of the EC2 I7ie bare metal instances marks a significant advancement in cloud infrastructure. These instances provide direct access to the underlying hardware, allowing customers to maximize their application’s performance while benefiting from AWS’s vast ecosystem. The I7ie instances leverage state-of-the-art technology to deliver superior compute performance, enhanced storage capabilities, and reduced latency.
Key Features of I7ie Instances¶
5th Generation Intel Xeon Scalable Processors: The I7ie instances utilize cutting-edge Intel processors, featuring a 3.2GHz all-core turbo frequency. This provides a substantial uplift in performance compared to previous models.
Storage Optimization: These instances offer up to 120TB of local NVMe storage, the highest density available in the cloud. This substantial storage capacity is essential for data-intensive applications and workloads.
Improved I/O Performance: Powered by the latest AWS Nitro SSDs, the I7ie instances boast up to 65% better real-time storage performance. The storage I/O latency is reduced by up to 50%, while storage I/O latency variability is minimized by 65%.
Enhanced Networking: Available network bandwidth reaches up to 100Gbps, ensuring high-speed data transfer essential for large-scale applications.
Comparing I7ie to I3en Instances¶
As part of AWS’s commitment to innovation, the EC2 I7ie instances present considerable improvements over the existing I3en instances.
Performance Gains¶
40% Better Compute Performance: The I7ie instances outpace the I3en options by delivering a maximum of 40% higher compute performance. This enhancement is crucial for applications requiring high processing capability, such as real-time analytics or machine learning.
20% Better Price Performance: In the competitive cloud space, cost-effectiveness is paramount. The I7ie instances offer 20% better price performance compared to I3en instances, making them a financially strategic choice for organizations looking to optimize costs while enhancing productivity.
Storage Improvements¶
Local NVMe Storage Density: Offering 120TB of NVMe storage, the I7ie instances enable organizations to store and process more data directly on the instance.
Efficient I/O Operations: The advanced AWS Nitro architecture delivers significant improvements in storage performance and efficiency, allowing for smooth operation of high-demand applications that require quick access to large datasets.
Technical Specifications¶
The I7ie instances come in two sizes:
– metal-24xl:
– vCPUs: 96
– Network Bandwidth: Up to 100Gbps
– EBS Bandwidth: 60Gbps
- metal-48xl:
- vCPUs: 192
- Network Bandwidth: Up to 100Gbps
- EBS Bandwidth: 60Gbps
Intel Accelerator Technologies¶
The I7ie instances integrate three advanced Intel technologies designed to enhance data operation efficiency:
Intel Data Streaming Accelerator (DSA): This technology helps offload data processing tasks from the CPU, improving throughput and performance for streaming workloads.
Intel In-Memory Analytics Accelerator (IAA): As organizations migrate more data-intensive applications to the cloud, IAA helps in performing real-time analytics by optimizing memory usage and significantly improving analytical performance.
Intel QuickAssist Technology (QAT): This feature optimizes encryption, compression, and networking tasks, reducing CPU workload and enhancing overall system performance.
Use Cases for EC2 I7ie Instances¶
The flexibility and power of the EC2 I7ie bare metal instances open up a diverse array of applications across several industries:
1. Data Analytics¶
Organizations leveraging big data can capitalize on the high compute and storage performance of I7ie instances to run complex analytical tasks in real-time. With both the scalability and power of these instances, businesses can uncover insights faster.
2. Machine Learning Workloads¶
For machine learning applications, where training models can be computationally intensive and require large datasets, the I7ie instances are ideal. Their superior performance characteristics allow for quicker training and inference times.
3. Financial Services¶
With stringent regulations and a need for speed, the financial sector can greatly benefit from the I7ie’s performance and low latency. Applications like risk modeling, fraud detection, and high-frequency trading can run more efficiently on these bare metal instances.
4. Gaming and Streaming¶
In the gaming industry, the demand for low latency and high throughput is paramount. I7ie instances can support high-performance gaming servers, real-time streaming, and interactive experiences, enhancing the end-user experience.
5. Legacy Workloads¶
For organizations still running on legacy software, EC2 I7ie instances provide the ability to run these applications without the need for heavy refactoring. Direct access to hardware means developers can optimize their applications for maximum efficiency.
Security Features of EC2 I7ie Instances¶
On top of performance and capacity, security is a paramount concern for AWS and its customers. The I7ie bare metal instances inherit the robust security framework that AWS is known for.
Nitro Security Architecture¶
The Nitro Security architecture underpins the I7ie instances, providing enhanced protection through hardware-based isolation. Key features include:
- Secure Boot: Ensures that instances boot securely using hardware-verified code.
- Encryption: Data stored on EBS can be encrypted using AWS key management, providing peace of mind for organizations handling sensitive information.
- VPC Isolation: Each instance can be isolated in its Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), allowing for added layers of security.
Compliance and Certifications¶
AWS continuously ensures compliance with various regulatory frameworks, which is critical for industries such as finance and healthcare. The I7ie instances fall under the compliance umbrella of:
- PCI DSS
- HIPAA
- ISO 27001
By leveraging I7ie instances, organizations can ensure that they meet necessary compliance requirements while benefiting from enhanced performance.
Getting Started with EC2 I7ie Instances¶
Transitioning to I7ie instances is user-friendly and can be initiated through the AWS Management Console, AWS CLI, or AWS SDKs. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:
Step 1: Log in to AWS Management Console¶
Head over to the AWS Management Console and log in to your account.
Step 2: Navigate to EC2 Dashboard¶
From the console, navigate to the EC2 dashboard where you can manage instances.
Step 3: Launch Instance¶
- Click on “Launch Instance.”
- Select an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) that meets your needs.
Step 4: Choose Instance Type¶
Select I7ie from the list of instance types, ensuring you choose between metal-24xl and metal-48xl based on your workload’s requirements.
Step 5: Configure Instance¶
You will then configure the instance settings, including network settings, storage options, and tags for organization purposes.
Step 6: Review and Launch¶
Review all configurations before launching the instance. Once satisfied, click “Launch” to begin using your new EC2 I7ie instance.
Step 7: Monitoring¶
After launching your instance, use AWS CloudWatch to monitor performance metrics. This ensures that your applications are running efficiently and lets you make adjustments as necessary.
Pricing Considerations¶
Understanding the pricing model for EC2 I7ie instances is essential for budgeting. AWS employs a pay-as-you-go model, allowing you to pay only for the resources you consume. Key considerations include:
- On-Demand Pricing: You can pay per second for your instance usage without any commitments.
- Reserved Instances: If you plan to run instances continuously, reserved instances can save you up to 75% compared to on-demand pricing.
- Spot Instances: For flexible workloads, you could utilize spot instances to take advantage of unused EC2 capacity at reduced prices.
Conclusion¶
The launch of the EC2 I7ie bare metal instances represents a remarkable step forward in cloud computing from AWS. With their advanced Intel technology, superior performance metrics, and substantial storage capacity, the I7ie instances are designed to handle even the most demanding applications.
Whether your organization is engaging in data analytics, machine learning, or operating legacy software, I7ie instances can provide the resources you need for mission-critical operations. By understanding their capabilities and pricing models, you can leverage these powerful tools to enhance your business outcomes.
Explore the potential of EC2 I7ie bare metal instances today and experience a new standard of performance in cloud computing.
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