As a small startup experiencing rapid changes, we're trying to figure out our needs concerning instance types and costs. We have some databases and OpenSearch clusters that we know will be part of our infrastructure in the long run, but we're unsure when we'll need to upsize these resources—or downsize in the case of OpenSearch after optimization. I've heard that convertible reserved instances (RIs) might suit our situation, but I've also been told that standard RIs could be just as effective. I'm looking for advice on whether convertible RIs make sense for our use case or if there are better options out there.
5 Answers
Definitely stick to Savings Plans. Convertible RIs are only for EC2. They won't help with RDS or OpenSearch, so it’s best to look into the savings plans if you're managing cost flexibility.
While Savings Plans are indeed being promoted more, convertible RIs still have their place for certain projects. It really comes down to what your expected usage will be in the next few months. If your spending on AWS accounts is substantial, consider using a tool like Trusted Advisor to optimize your costs before buying reserved instances.
Convertible RIs aren’t really the best fit for your situation. I'd suggest just going with on-demand instances for now until you have a clearer picture of your resource needs. It's better to wait until you've optimized your setup before committing to a reserved instance.
Savings Plans are often the best route to go if you expect to scale up or down. Just keep in mind, if you think you might need to downsize your resources, holding off on purchasing any reservations could be wise. Generally, having two smaller RIs can help you cover one larger instance when needed.
That's a good point! But isn't it tricky if I have multiple RDS instances and need to upgrade just one?
Just to clarify, convertible RIs only apply to EC2, and they don't really have advantages over the EC2 Savings Plans. For RDS, you'll need to get reserved instances, and they are more flexible than you might think. For example, a reservation for a small instance can help cover some costs when you upsizing later. OpenSearch is another story; you don't have the same flexibility because it requires specific reservations.
Yeah, I heard that about flexible RIs for RDS! It seems like it might be a more strategic way to save money.
Got it! Knowing that our spending is manageable will definitely help us make a better decision going forward.