Effective November 12, 2024, AWS will discontinue previous generation AWS Snowball devices and both Snowcone devices (HDD and SDD). We will continue to support existing customers using these end-of-life devices until November 12, 2025. The latest generation AWS Snowball devices are available for all customers. For more information on the specific devices and alternatives, read the blog.
AWS Snowball is available in two device types. AWS Snowball Edge Compute Optimized with more computing capabilities, which is suited for higher performance workloads. AWS Snowball Edge Storage Optimized with more storage, which is suited for large-scale data migrations and capacity-oriented workloads.
AWS Snowball Edge Compute Optimized provides powerful computing resources for use cases such as machine learning, full motion video analysis, analytics, and local computing stacks.
AWS Snowball Edge Storage Optimized devices are well suited for large-scale data migrations and recurring transfer workflows.
AWS Snowball devices feature high-speed network connections and optical interfaces. All encryption is performed on the device itself, helping enable a higher data throughput rate and shorter data migration times. For device specific networking specifications, please see Snowball documentation.
AWS Snowball Edge Compute Optimized accelerates an application’s performance in disconnected environments. Using the GPU option, you can run applications such as advanced machine learning and full motion video analysis in environments with little or no connectivity.
You can create a storage cluster using multiple Snowball devices when running edge computing jobs for increased storage durability of on-premise applications. When creating a new job in the Console, select the option to make a storage cluster. In the event of a device failure, a replacement device can be ordered easily through the Console. This functionality is available for local storage and compute jobs and is not enabled for data migration jobs or devices with EKS Anywhere enabled.
You can create an Amazon EKS Anywhere cluster using one or more Snowball devices for your Kubernetes deployments. When creating a new job in the Console, under the Features and options step, you can choose the number of devices you want in your Kubernetes cluster and to include Amazon EKS Anywhere on them.
Applications can work with S3 compatible storage through S3 API compatible endpoint accessed through AWS OpsHub, S3 SDK or CLI. For specific information, see the API documentation.
You can transfer data with S3 Adapter on Snowball through an S3-API compatible endpoint accessed through AWS OpsHub, S3 SDK or CLI. For specific information, see the API documentation.
You can run block storage on both Snowball Edge Compute Optimized and Snowball Edge Storage Optimized devices. You attach block storage volumes to Amazon EC2 instances using a subset of the Amazon EBS API that enable you to configure and manage volumes for EC2 instances on Snowball devices. This makes it easier to develop applications in EC2, and then run them in disconnected and remote locations. Snowball supports both performance optimized and capacity optimized volume types.
AWS Snowball devices are compliant for highly regulated industries in both the public and private sectors required to, or highly preferred to choose solutions that meet either HIPPA or FedRamp compliance standards.
Check this Snowball documentation page for the complete list of hardware specs, including interfaces, thermal and power requirements, decibel output, and dimensions.