AWS Import/Export vs AWS Snowball Edge: What are the differences?

Introduction

AWS Import/Export and AWS Snowball Edge are both services offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that assist in transferring large amounts of data to and from the AWS cloud. However, there are several key differences between these two services.

1. Data Transfer Method: AWS Import/Export uses a traditional offline method where data is shipped to and from AWS using portable storage devices. Users need to prepare the storage devices (such as hard drives or tapes) and ship them to an AWS facility. In contrast, AWS Snowball Edge uses a physical data transfer appliance that combines storage and compute capabilities. Snowball Edge devices are shipped to the user, who can then directly transfer data to and from the device.

2. Data Capacity: AWS Import/Export is suitable for transferring smaller amounts of data. The maximum capacity for a single job is 16 TB of data. In contrast, AWS Snowball Edge offers much higher data capacity, with varying models that allow for up to 80 TB, 100 TB, or even 237 TB of data transfer in a single device.

3. Data Transfer Speed: AWS Import/Export relies on the user's own bandwidth for data transfer, which means the speed is limited by the user's network connection. On the other hand, AWS Snowball Edge devices provide high-speed data transfer using their built-in networking capabilities. These devices can achieve faster data transfer rates due to their optimized hardware.

4. Data Processing and Analysis: AWS Import/Export is primarily focused on data transfer and does not provide built-in compute capabilities. It is mainly used for data import or export tasks. In contrast, AWS Snowball Edge devices not only provide data transfer, but also have built-in compute capabilities. Users can run applications and perform data processing and analysis tasks directly on the Snowball Edge device itself, without needing to move the data to the cloud.

5. Edge Computing: AWS Import/Export does not support edge computing as it is primarily designed for data transfer between on-premises and the cloud. On the other hand, AWS Snowball Edge devices support edge computing by allowing users to perform local data processing, analysis, and application deployment. This can be particularly useful in scenarios where low-latency or offline processing is required.

6. Integration and Connectivity: AWS Import/Export integrates with various AWS services for data import/export, such as Amazon S3 or Amazon Glacier. However, it does not have extensive connectivity options beyond data transfer. In contrast, AWS Snowball Edge devices provide more connectivity options, allowing users to connect to other AWS services, on-premises infrastructure, and even IoT devices. This enables more versatile use cases and integration possibilities.

In Summary, AWS Import/Export is a traditional offline data transfer service with limited data capacity and no built-in computing capabilities, while AWS Snowball Edge is a physical data transfer and edge computing device with higher data capacity, high-speed transfer, and local processing capabilities.