AWS Snow device updates

Since its launch in 2015, customers have used AWS Snow devices to move data to the AWS Cloud or run compute and processing workloads at the edge. Our innovations since have made moving data to AWS and running workloads at the edge, faster, more efficient, and more cost effective. During the same time, network bandwidth has increased exponentially, and we have introduced services such as AWS DataSync, a service that automates and accelerates moving data between on premises and AWS, and customers have taken advantage of the network speed increases to move tens of petabytes of data to the cloud using AWS Direct Connect, a service that delivers consistent, low-latency performance for moving data to AWS by linking your network.

While our customers strongly prefer online migrations to offline, we have also advanced AWS Snowball with devices that feature faster and higher capacity computing and increased storage capacity with faster transfer speed for those customers that lack sufficient network bandwidth. AWS continues to innovate to meet our customer’s needs, and this includes the planned transition from previous generation, end-of-life AWS Snowball devices to the latest generation Snowball devices, and the discontinuation of AWS Snowcone.

AWS Snowball Edge device updates

Effective November 12, 2024, AWS will discontinue three, previous generation, end-of-life AWS Snowball device models, specifically the Snowball Edge Storage Optimized 80TB device, Snowball Edge Compute Optimized with 52 vCPUs device, and the Snowball Edge Compute Optimized with GPU device. After this date, both new and existing customers can no longer order the previous generation, discontinued Snowball device models. We will continue to support existing customers that currently have the end-of-life Snowball device models until November 12, 2025, but strongly encourage these customers to complete their jobs and return the devices.

The Snowball Edge service will now exclusively use the latest generation device models that deliver better compute performance and larger storage capacity. Specifically, you can use the AWS Snowball Edge Storage Optimized 210TB device with NVMe storage and the ability to transfer up to 1.5 gigabytes of data per second for data migration workloads, and the Snowball Edge Compute Optimized with 104 vCPUs device with full SSD 28TB NVMe storage for edge compute workloads. These latest generation devices deliver better performance, increased capacity, and the ability to complete larger data migrations or process data at the edge faster.

AWS Snowcone service update

After careful consideration, we have discontinued the AWS Snowcone service, effective November 12, 2024. After this date, both new and existing customers can no longer order any Snowcone device, including the Snowcone SSD and Snowcone HDD. We will continue to support existing customers with Snowcone devices until November 12, 2025, but strongly encourage these customers to complete their jobs and return the devices.

Alternatives for data migration

For the majority of data migration workloads, you should use AWS DataSync. AWS DataSync simplifies data migration and helps you quickly, easily, and securely transfer your file or object data to AWS storage services. AWS DataSync gives you a purpose-built service to simplify and automate data transfers. AWS DataSync removes the operational burden of writing and maintaining code, buying and operating data transfer software, and manually ensuring data transfers are executed and verified. AWS DataSync integrates with Amazon CloudWatch and Amazon EventBridge for easy monitoring of metrics, logs, and events. AWS DataSync also compresses data before transit, identifies only the objects that have changed and need to be copied, and automatically recovers from network interruptions. To get started, visit the AWS DataSync console. To learn more, view the AWS DataSync documentation.

However, in the rare situations when bandwidth is limited, or a connection is intermittent, you can use the latest AWS Snowball Edge Storage Optimized 210TB device for offline data migration. The latest Snowball Edge Storage Optimized device delivers high performance NVMe storage, enabling you to simplify multi-petabyte data migrations from on-premises locations to AWS. With the increased storage capacity and higher performance NVMe drives, you can now migrate 2PBs of data per month, doubling the velocity of large migrations. AWS Snowball Edge Storage Optimized 210TB device also offers a 100TB pricing option for data migrations that require less capacity. With this offering, the AWS Snowball Edge Storage Optimized 210TB device supports two pricing options for data migration: less than 100TB, and from 100TB to 210TB pricing. Get started by ordering a Snowball Edge device on the AWS Snow console.

Alternatives for edge computing

For edge compute workloads, the AWS Snowball service will now exclusively use the latest AWS Snowball Edge Compute Optimized 104 vCPU device. This device doubles the compute capacity up to 104 vCPUs, doubles the memory capacity up to 416GB RAM, and is fully SSD with 28TB NVMe storage. AWS Snowball Edge Compute Optimized is a secure, rugged device that brings AWS computing and storage capabilities, such as Amazon EC2, Amazon EBS, Amazon S3, AWS IoT Greengrass, AWS Lambda functions, and AWS IAM to your edge environments. This device is ideal when you need dense compute resources to run complex workloads such as machine learning inference or video analytics at the rugged, mobile edge. Get started by ordering a Snowball Edge device on the AWS Snow console.

You can also consider AWS Outposts, a family of fully managed solutions delivering AWS infrastructure and services to virtually any on-premises or edge location for a truly consistent hybrid experience. Outposts solutions allow you to extend and run native AWS services on premises and are available in a variety of form factors, from 1U and 2U Outposts servers to 42U Outposts racks. With AWS Outposts, you can run applications and workloads on premises and in remote edge locations using familiar AWS services, tools, and APIs.

Next steps

At this time, if you have any of the discontinued Snow devices, we recommend completing active jobs and returning the older Snowball and Snowcone devices to AWS in order to avoid impact. After November 12, 2024, no new orders of the discontinued devices will be processed. If you have additional questions, please contact us.