Migrating applications with relational database backends (RDBMS) to AWS involves a critical decision: Use Amazon RDS or host a database server on an AWS EC2 instance. This blog provides a concise comparison to help you make an informed choice for your cloud migration strategy.
Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS) is a managed Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) supporting popular database engines like MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Oracle, and SQL Server. It simplifies database setup, operation, and scaling, offloading time-consuming administrative tasks to AWS.
Managed Service: Automates provisioning, setup, patching, backup, recovery, and failure detection.
Backup and Recovery: Automatic daily backups with a 24-hour RTO; near-zero RPO with multi-region strategies.
Patching: Routine patches during maintenance windows.
Read Replicas: Improve read capacity and reduce IOPS by routing read queries to replicas.
Database Instance Types: Flexible options for CPU, memory, storage, and networking based on requirements.
Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) provides secure, resizable compute capacity in the cloud. Users can provision EC2 instances and manually install the required database engines, offering complete control over the computing resources.
Flexibility: Full control over setup, configuration, and management of database engines.
Scalability: Easily scale up or down based on demand.
Customization: Ideal for database engines or versions not supported by RDS.
Cost Management: Potentially more cost-effective for certain configurations.
Feature | Amazon RDS | Amazon EC2 |
Management | Managed by AWS, reducing administrative overhead | Self-managed, full control |
Automation | High (automated backups, patching, and scaling) | Requires manual setup and management |
Flexibility | Limited to supported database engines and configurations | Highly flexible, any database engine/version |
Cost | Potentially higher due to managed services | Potentially lower, especially for large deployments |
Performance | Optimized with built-in high availability and replicas | Depends on user setup and configuration |
Security | Automated security patches and maintenance | User responsibility to manage security |
Management Overhead: RDS reduces management tasks, ideal for teams looking to offload database administration.
Flexibility Needs: EC2 offers more flexibility for custom database setups and unsupported engines.
Automation: RDS supports automation for deployments and backups, enhancing operational efficiency.
Cost Constraints: EC2 may be preferable for budget-sensitive projects requiring specific configurations.
Performance and Scaling: Both options can scale, but RDS offers simplified scaling with read replicas and built-in high availability.
We have assessed 5,769 Oracle databases running on 3,163 hosts and 15,629 CPU cores in the last twelve months. The total license value - database and options used - exceeds $690 million, with $150 million in annual support fees (based on list prices).
Read moreManaging Oracle licenses on Amazon Web Services (AWS) can be complex. Whether you're looking to migrate existing systems or scale new deployments on AWS, it’s important to understand how Oracle’s licensing works to avoid compliance issues and unexpected costs. Here’s a breakdown of the options and considerations you need to be aware of when using Oracle on AWS.
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