Introduction

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) is a web service that provides secure, scalable, and flexible computing capacity in the cloud. EC2 allows users to launch and manage virtual machines (known as instances) with a variety of operating systems and configurations.

Choosing the right EC2 instance type is crucial for optimizing the performance and cost of your workloads. Different instance types offer different combinations of CPU, memory, storage, and networking resources, and are optimized for specific types of workloads.

In this blog post, we will take a look at the most common EC2 instance types and their main characteristics. We will cover general purpose instance types, which provide a balance of CPU, memory, and networking performance; memory-optimized instance types, which offer high memory-to-CPU ratios; compute-optimized instance types, which provide high CPU performance; burstable instance types, which allow for temporary bursts of higher performance; storage-optimized instance types, which offer high disk throughput and IOPS; and ARM-based instance types, which use ARM-based processors.

General purpose instance types

General purpose instance types are designed to provide a balance of CPU, memory, and networking performance for a wide range of workloads. They are suitable for many workloads that require moderate amounts of CPU, memory, and networking resources, such as web and application servers, development environments, and small to medium-sized databases.

Some examples of general purpose instance types include the M6, T3 and T4. The M6 instances are the latest generation of general purpose instances, offering a balance of compute, memory, and networking resources, as well as a range of storage options. The T3/T4 instances are burstable instances, which means they can provide a higher level of CPU performance for a limited time when required.

General purpose instance types are a good choice for many workloads that require a balanced combination of CPU, memory, and networking resources, but may not be the most efficient choice for workloads that require a lot of CPU, memory, or networking resources. In those cases, specialized instance types such as compute-optimized or memory-optimized instances may be a better fit.

Memory-optimized instance types

Memory-optimized instance types are designed to provide a high memory-to-CPU ratio, making them ideal for workloads that require a large amount of memory, such as in-memory databases. These instance types typically offer lower CPU performance and lower networking performance compared to general purpose instance types.

Some examples of memory-optimized instance types include the R6, X1, and z1d. The R6 instances are the latest generation of memory-optimized instances, offering a high memory-to-CPU ratio and support for memory-intensive workloads. The X1 instances are designed for large-scale, in-memory applications, providing up to 2TB of memory and support for up to 128 vCPUs. The z1d instances are designed for high-performance memory and computing workloads, providing up to 384GB of memory and support for up to 48 vCPUs.

Compute-optimized instance types

Compute-optimized instance types are designed to provide high CPU performance and low latency, making them ideal for workloads that require a lot of compute power, such as high-performance databases, scientific simulations, and other compute-intensive workloads. These instance types typically offer lower memory-to-CPU ratios and lower networking performance compared to general purpose instance types.

Some examples of compute-optimized instance types include the C7g, and C6. The C6 instances are the latest generation of compute-optimized instances, offering high CPU performance and support for a variety of workloads. The C7g are Arm-based instances.

Storage-optimized instance types

Storage-optimized instance types are designed to provide high disk throughput and IOPS (input/output operations per second), making them ideal for workloads that require a lot of storage, such as data warehouses, big data analytics, and other storage-intensive workloads. These instance types typically offer lower CPU and memory performance compared to general purpose instance types.

Some examples of storage-optimized instance types include the I3, D2, and H1. The I3 instances are the latest generation of storage-optimized instances, offering high-speed, local storage and support for up to 64 vCPUs and 488 GiB of memory. The D2 instances are designed for data-intensive workloads, providing up to 48 TB of local storage and support for up to 36 vCPUs. The H1 instances are designed for Hadoop and other distributed storage systems, providing up to 16 TB of local storage and support for up to 64 vCPUs.

Storage-optimized instance types are a good choice for workloads that require a lot of storage, such as data warehouses and big data analytics. However, they may not be the most efficient choice for workloads that require a lot of CPU or memory performance. In those cases, other instance types such as general purpose or memory-optimized instances may be a better fit.

ARM-based instance types

ARM-based instance types are a new type of EC2 instance that uses ARM-based processors instead of the traditional x86-based processors used by most other EC2 instances. ARM-based processors offer several advantages over x86-based processors, including lower power consumption and lower costs, making them a good choice for workloads that are sensitive to power and cost.

Some examples of ARM-based instance types include the A1, M6g, and R6g. The A1 instances are the latest generation of ARM-based instances, offering a balance of compute, memory, and networking resources. The M6g instances are designed for general-purpose workloads, providing a high memory-to-CPU ratio and support for up to 64 vCPUs. The R6g instances are designed for memory-intensive workloads, providing a high memory-to-CPU ratio and support for up to 128 vCPUs.

ARM-based instance types are a good choice for workloads that are sensitive to power and cost, such as web and application servers, development environments, and small to medium-sized databases. However, they may not be the most efficient choice for workloads that require a lot of CPU, memory, or networking performance. In those cases, other instance types such as general purpose or compute-optimized instances may be a better fit.

Conclusion

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) is a web service that provides scalable computing capacity in the cloud. EC2 allows users to launch and manage virtual machines (known as instances) with a variety of operating systems and configurations. Choosing the right EC2 instance type is important for optimizing the performance and cost of your workloads. Different instance types offer different combinations of CPU, memory, storage, and networking resources, and are optimized for specific types of workloads. Some common EC2 instance types include general purpose, memory-optimized, compute-optimized, storage-optimized, and ARM-based instance types. The appropriate instance type for your workload will depend on the specific requirements of your application.