Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers two data transfer technologies called AWS Snowball and Snowmobile that assist users in moving big volumes of data into and out of the AWS cloud. Both are intended to assist users in overcoming the difficulties associated with expensive and time-consuming large-scale data transfers over the Internet. We will examine the functions and applications for both snowballs and snowmobiles in this blog article, along with some usage examples.
Table of Contents
What is AWS Snowball?
Using AWS Snowball, you can leverage AWS computation and storage capabilities in edge locations with safe, durable devices. It can be used to move data between AWS cloud instances. AWS Snowball Edge is the device that is now available as part of the Snowball service; it has on-board processing capabilities and 40–80 TB of storage. An older physical model of storage devices was referred to as an “AWS Snowball” in the past, although AWS eventually superseded this type.
What is AWS Snowmobile?
Exabyte-scale data migration is possible thanks to a managed service called AWS Snowmobile. Big data migration from a local data center to the AWS cloud can be facilitated by the service. A snowmobile vehicle’s storage capacity is limited to 100 PB (petabytes). Multiple snowmobiles can be used to transport larger volumes of data. When AWS employees arrive at the location, they immediately connect the Snowmobile to the network backbone.
Snowball vs Snowmobile: Use Cases
Feature | AWS Snowball | AWS Snowmobile |
Primary Use Case | Medium-sized data migration | Massive data migration (exabytes of data) |
Data Capacity | 80 TB to 100 TB per device | Up to 100 PB per Snowmobile |
Transfer Speed | High-speed, suited for moderate data sets | Ultra-fast for exabyte-scale data transfers |
Physical Size | Portable, rugged device | Semi-truck-sized container |
Delivery Method | Shipped by carrier (e.g., UPS/FedEx) | Transported by truck |
Security | Encryption, tamper-resistant | Military-grade encryption, secure transport |
Typical Use Cases | Data backup and recovery | Large-scale data center migrations |
Analytics workload data transfers | Moving extensive media libraries or archives | |
Edge computing for remote sites | Oil & gas, financial sector data migration | |
Cost Efficiency | Ideal for smaller, more frequent transfers | Efficient for moving large volumes of data |
Industries | Media, healthcare, IoT, research | Enterprise-level sectors like finance, energy |
Snowball vs Snowmobile: Work Process
Feature | AWS Snowball | AWS Snowmobile |
Primary Use Case | Data migration, transfer, and edge computing | Large-scale data migration (exabytes of data) |
Data Capacity | 80 TB to 100 TB per device | Up to 100 PB (petabytes) per Snowmobile |
Data Transfer Speed | High-speed, up to 100 TB per Snowball | Extremely high-speed, suitable for exabyte-scale |
Physical Size | Portable device (rugged and secure) | Truck-sized container |
Transport Method | Delivered by shipping carriers (e.g., UPS) | Transported via semi-truck |
Security Features | Encryption, tamper-resistant, sealed device | Military-grade security, encrypted data transport |
Key Use Cases | Data backup for disaster recovery | Migrations for large data lakes |
Moving small or medium datasets for analytics | Large media archives | |
Edge computing for remote locations | Data center migrations | |
Industries | Media & Entertainment, IoT data collection | Large enterprises like oil & gas, media, and finance |
Healthcare for Genomic Data | ||
Cost Efficiency | More cost-effective for smaller data sizes | Cost-effective for moving vast amounts of data |
Deployment Time | Quick and easy deployment within days | Requires planning, but can handle massive datasets |
AWS Professional Services with SupportFly
SupportFly’s expert and certified team members are available 24×7 to provide support, solutions, and consulting services for AWS server management and cloud infrastructure management.
Server Configuration & Setup: Getting your server configuration and setup right is crucial for a successful AWS deployment. Our experts ensure your AWS environment is optimized for performance, security, and scalability.
AWS Consulting: Our AWS Consulting Services provide you with the expertise and insights needed to harness the full potential of AWS. Whether you need assistance with architecture design, application migration, or performance optimization,.
AWS Migration & Transfer: Migrating your applications and data to AWS requires meticulous planning and execution. Our AWS Migration & Transfer services ensure a smooth and efficient migration process, minimizing downtime and disruption.
AWS DevOps Automation: DevOps is the key to achieving speed, efficiency, and collaboration in the cloud. Our AWS DevOps Automation services streamline your development workflows, enabling continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines.
AWS Monitoring and Support: Keep your AWS environment running at peak performance with our AWS Monitoring and Support services. Our experts provide 24×7 monitoring, real-time alerts, and swift incident response to ensure your AWS infrastructure remains healthy and secure.
AWS Cost Optimization: Cost optimization is a critical aspect of cloud management. Our AWS Cost Optimization services analyze your AWS usage, identify cost-saving opportunities, and implement strategies to maximize your AWS investment without compromising performance.
AWS Backup and Disaster Recovery: Data loss and downtime can be catastrophic for businesses. Our AWS Backup and Disaster Recovery services ensure your data is protected and your applications can quickly recover from any disruptions, keeping your business operations running smoothly.
CI/CD Pipeline on AWS: Deploying code quickly and safely is essential for agility in the cloud. Our CI/CD Pipeline on AWS services help you set up efficient and automated release pipelines, enabling rapid and reliable software delivery.
AWS Security Support: Security is our top priority. Our AWS Security Support services implement robust security measures, provide ongoing monitoring, and offer expert guidance to keep your AWS environment protected against potential threats.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both AWS Snowball and Snowmobile are powerful data transfer solutions that can help customers overcome the challenges of transferring large amounts of data over the Internet. Snowball is ideal for small-scale data migration, while Snowmobile is ideal for extremely large-scale data migration.Â
Snowball offers flexibility and cost efficiency for frequent, smaller transfers, making it perfect for businesses dealing with terabytes of data. On the other hand, Snowmobile is designed to handle petabyte and exabyte-level migrations, saving significant time and resources. Both services ensure secure, encrypted data transfer, providing scalable solutions to meet varying data transfer needs across industries.
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