AWS Outposts
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AWS Outposts is a fully managed service that brings native AWS infrastructure, services, APIs, and tools to your on-premises data centers. This article provides a detailed technical overview of AWS Outposts, covering its hardware specifications, performance characteristics, recommended use cases, comparisons with similar configurations, and maintenance considerations.
1. Hardware Specifications
AWS Outposts are available in various rack configurations, each optimized for different workloads. The core building block is the Outpost rack, and within that, specific server configurations exist. As of late 2023/early 2024, the primary offerings are 42U racks. There are also smaller 21U options, but these are less common and generally used for development/testing.
1.1. Outpost Rack (42U)
The 42U rack is the most common Outpost deployment. It houses multiple compute and storage servers, networking infrastructure, and power distribution units (PDUs). The specifications vary depending on the configuration chosen – vEN, vIO, or vGPU.
| Component | Specification (vEN) | Specification (vIO) | Specification (vGPU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rack Unit Height | 42U | 42U | 42U |
| Overall Dimensions (H x W x D) | 86.875" x 24" x 48" (2205mm x 610mm x 1219mm) | 86.875" x 24" x 48" (2205mm x 610mm x 1219mm) | 86.875" x 24" x 48" (2205mm x 610mm x 1219mm) |
| Weight (Fully Loaded) | ~900 lbs (408 kg) | ~950 lbs (431 kg) | ~1100 lbs (499 kg) |
| Compute Servers | 4 x AWS Compute Servers (2nd Gen AMD EPYC 7003 Series) | 4 x AWS Compute Servers (2nd Gen AMD EPYC 7003 Series) | 4 x AWS Compute Servers (2nd Gen AMD EPYC 7003 Series) |
| CPU per Server | 2 x AMD EPYC 7763 (64 Cores, 128 Threads, 2.45 GHz Base Clock) | 2 x AMD EPYC 7763 (64 Cores, 128 Threads, 2.45 GHz Base Clock) | 2 x AMD EPYC 7763 (64 Cores, 128 Threads, 2.45 GHz Base Clock) |
| RAM per Server | 4 TB DDR4 ECC Registered (32 x 128 GB DIMMs) | 4 TB DDR4 ECC Registered (32 x 128 GB DIMMs) | 4 TB DDR4 ECC Registered (32 x 128 GB DIMMs) |
| Storage per Server | Local NVMe SSD: 8 TB (Raw) | Local NVMe SSD: 8 TB (Raw) + External Storage Connectivity | Local NVMe SSD: 8 TB (Raw) + External Storage Connectivity |
| Network Interface | 100 Gbps per server (Dual Port) | 100 Gbps per server (Dual Port) | 100 Gbps per server (Dual Port) |
| GPU per Server | None | None | 4 x NVIDIA A100 (80GB) |
| Power Supply | Redundant, Hot-Swappable | Redundant, Hot-Swappable | Redundant, Hot-Swappable |
| Power Consumption (Typical) | ~20 kW | ~22 kW | ~30 kW |
1.2. Networking
Outposts include a dedicated network switch (Cisco or Arista, depending on region/configuration) for internal communication. This switch provides low-latency connectivity between the compute and storage servers within the rack. Connectivity to your on-premises network and to the AWS cloud is provided via a dedicated network link, typically 100Gbps or 400Gbps. Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) peering is established to integrate Outposts seamlessly with your existing AWS infrastructure. AWS Direct Connect can be used for a dedicated, private network connection.
1.3. Storage Options
- **Local NVMe SSDs:** Each compute server includes a significant amount of high-performance NVMe SSD storage for applications requiring low latency.
- **External Storage Connectivity:** Outposts support connectivity to external storage arrays via Fibre Channel or iSCSI. This allows you to leverage existing storage infrastructure or scale storage capacity beyond the local NVMe SSDs. Elastic Block Storage (EBS) can be utilized as a backend for some Outpost services.
- **AWS Storage Gateway:** Can be used to integrate with on-premises storage for archival and backup.
1.4. Server Configurations Detail
- **vEN (General Purpose):** Optimized for a broad range of workloads, including databases, application servers, and development environments. Focuses on balanced compute and memory resources.
- **vIO (Storage Intensive):** Designed for applications requiring high I/O throughput and low latency access to storage, such as NoSQL databases, data analytics, and media processing. Includes enhanced external storage connectivity.
- **vGPU (GPU Intensive):** Ideal for machine learning, high-performance computing (HPC), and graphics-intensive applications. Equipped with NVIDIA A100 GPUs for accelerated processing. Amazon EC2 instance types are mapped to these configurations.
2. Performance Characteristics
Performance of AWS Outposts is comparable to equivalent on-premises servers running the same hardware. However, the true benefit lies in the integration with AWS services and the consistency of the platform.
2.1. Compute Performance
- **CPU:** The AMD EPYC 7763 processors deliver excellent performance for CPU-bound workloads. SPEC CPU 2017 benchmarks show comparable results to other servers using the same processor.
- **Memory:** 4TB of RAM provides ample memory for most applications, reducing the need for disk swapping and improving overall performance.
- **vGPU:** The NVIDIA A100 GPUs provide significant acceleration for machine learning and HPC workloads. Performance gains depend heavily on the specific application and optimization. TensorFlow and PyTorch frameworks benefit greatly.
2.2. Storage Performance
- **Local NVMe SSDs:** Offer very low latency and high throughput, suitable for demanding applications. IOPS and throughput vary depending on the specific SSD model used.
- **External Storage:** Performance depends on the connectivity method (Fibre Channel or iSCSI) and the performance characteristics of the external storage array.
- **Network Performance:** 100Gbps/400Gbps network connectivity ensures low latency and high bandwidth for data transfer between Outposts and the AWS cloud. Amazon S3 access latency is minimized due to proximity.
2.3. Benchmark Results (Example)
(These are example numbers and will vary by workload and configuration.)
| Benchmark | vEN | vIO | vGPU |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPEC CPU 2017 (Integer) | 120 | 125 | 120 |
| SPEC CPU 2017 (Floating Point) | 180 | 185 | 180 |
| IOPS (Local NVMe) | 500,000 | 600,000 | 500,000 |
| Throughput (Local NVMe) | 8 GB/s | 10 GB/s | 8 GB/s |
| ResNet-50 Training Time (Image Classification) | 2 hours | 2 hours | 30 minutes |
2.4 Real-World Performance
In real-world deployments, Outposts often demonstrate improved application performance compared to running the same applications in a public cloud region, due to reduced network latency and the ability to process data closer to the source. For example, manufacturing facilities can leverage Outposts for real-time data analysis and control systems.
3. Recommended Use Cases
AWS Outposts are well-suited for applications with specific requirements that make running them in the public cloud challenging.
- **Low-Latency Applications:** Applications requiring extremely low latency, such as high-frequency trading, real-time analytics, and industrial automation.
- **Data Residency Requirements:** Applications that must comply with strict data residency regulations, ensuring data remains within a specific geographic location.
- **Local Data Processing:** Applications that generate large volumes of data and require processing close to the source, such as manufacturing, oil and gas, and healthcare.
- **Migration Strategy:** Allows for a phased migration to the cloud, starting with applications that are not suitable for the public cloud. AWS Migration Hub can assist in this process.
- **Hybrid Cloud Environments:** Provides a consistent platform for building and running applications across on-premises and cloud environments.
- **Edge Computing:** Supporting workloads at the edge where connectivity to regions may be unreliable or have high latency.
4. Comparison with Similar Configurations
AWS Outposts competes with other hybrid cloud solutions, including:
| Feature | AWS Outposts | Azure Stack Hub | Google Anthos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure | Google Cloud Platform |
| Hardware | AWS-designed, AMD EPYC based | Dell EMC, HPE, Lenovo | Google-certified partners |
| Management | Fully managed by AWS | Customer managed (with Azure support) | Customer managed (with Google support) |
| Integration with Cloud Services | Seamless integration with all AWS services | Integration with Azure services | Integration with Google Cloud services |
| Pricing Model | Monthly fixed cost + usage | Upfront hardware cost + software subscription | Software subscription |
| Data Residency | Yes, data stays on-premises | Yes, data stays on-premises | Yes, data stays on-premises |
| Complexity | Relatively simple deployment and management | More complex deployment and management | More complex deployment and management |
- Key Differences:**
- **Management:** Outposts is fully managed by AWS, simplifying operations. Azure Stack Hub and Google Anthos require more customer involvement in management and maintenance.
- **Hardware:** Outposts uses AWS-designed hardware. Azure Stack Hub offers a choice of hardware vendors.
- **Pricing:** Outposts has a predictable monthly cost, while Azure Stack Hub requires a significant upfront investment in hardware. AWS Cost Explorer is useful for managing Outpost costs.
5. Maintenance Considerations
Maintaining an AWS Outposts deployment requires careful planning and execution.
5.1. Power Requirements
- A 42U Outpost rack typically requires approximately 20-30kW of power, depending on the configuration.
- Dedicated power circuits are required, with sufficient capacity to handle the peak power draw.
- Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) are recommended to protect against power outages. Power Distribution Units (PDUs) are integrated into the Outpost rack.
5.2. Cooling Requirements
- Outposts generate a significant amount of heat.
- Dedicated cooling systems are required to maintain the operating temperature within the specified range (typically 18-27°C).
- Hot aisle/cold aisle containment is recommended to improve cooling efficiency.
- Monitoring of temperature and humidity is crucial.
5.3. Physical Security
- The Outpost rack should be located in a secure data center with restricted access.
- Physical security measures, such as surveillance cameras and access control systems, should be in place.
5.4. Network Connectivity
- A reliable, high-bandwidth network connection to the AWS cloud is essential.
- Redundant network links are recommended to ensure high availability.
- Regular monitoring of network performance is crucial. Amazon CloudWatch can be used for monitoring.
5.5. Software Updates and Patching
- AWS manages software updates and patching for the Outpost infrastructure.
- However, customers are responsible for patching the operating systems and applications running on the Outpost servers. AWS Systems Manager can assist with this.
5.6. Remote Support
- AWS provides remote support for Outposts deployments.
- On-site support may be required for hardware failures or other critical issues. AWS Support plans offer varying levels of support.
Amazon Web Services Amazon EC2 Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) AWS Direct Connect Elastic Block Storage (EBS) AWS Storage Gateway Amazon S3 TensorFlow PyTorch SPEC CPU 2017 AWS Migration Hub AWS Cost Explorer Power Distribution Units (PDUs) Amazon CloudWatch AWS Systems Manager AWS Support ```
Intel-Based Server Configurations
| Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Core i7-6700K/7700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 512 GB | CPU Benchmark: 8046 |
| Core i7-8700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2x1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 13124 |
| Core i9-9900K Server | 128 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 49969 |
| Core i9-13900 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i9-13900 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Workstation | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2 NVMe SSD, NVIDIA RTX 4000 |
AMD-Based Server Configurations
| Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 3600 Server | 64 GB RAM, 2x480 GB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 17849 |
| Ryzen 7 7700 Server | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2x1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 35224 |
| Ryzen 9 5950X Server | 128 GB RAM, 2x4 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 46045 |
| Ryzen 9 7950X Server | 128 GB DDR5 ECC, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 63561 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/1TB) | 128 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/2TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/4TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/1TB) | 256 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/4TB) | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 9454P Server | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe |
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⚠️ *Note: All benchmark scores are approximate and may vary based on configuration. Server availability subject to stock.* ⚠️