Should you use Alibaba Cloud ApsaraDB for RDS or build your own database? Check out these two tables to learn more!
Performance Comparison
| Feature | ApsaraDB for RDS | Independently Built Database Services from Purchased Servers |
| Service Availability | 99.95% | Requires you to implement and maintain your own data protection, master-slave replication, and RAID |
| Data Reliability | 99.9999% | Requires you to implement and maintain your own data protection, master-slave replication, and RAID |
| System Security | •Anti-DDoS •Traffic cleaning •Timely repair of all kinds of database security vulnerabilities |
•Dependent on system design and additional third-party security products •Potentially more expensive •Self-repair of all database security vulnerabilities |
| Database Backup | Automatic backup | Independent backups are possible, but the user has to find storage space and regularly validate the backup |
| Software and Hardware Investment | Pay-as-you-go, no software and hardware investment | Database servers are rather costly and the user must purchase their own SQL Server license |
| System Hosting | No hosting fee | More than RMB 5,000/year for each 2U server (more than RMB 10,000/year for two servers (master and slave servers)) |
| Maintenance | O&M is not needed | Need to be maintained by DBA, greatly increasing OpEx |
| Deployment Resizing | Instant activation, fast deployment, elastic resizing, activated as necessary | Hardware procurement, data center hosting, and machine deployment are all required and can be time consuming |
| Rate of Resource Utilization | 100% utilization rate, pay for what you use | Low rate of resource utilization, resources must accommodate peak traffic requirements |
Price comparison
| Category | ApsaraDB for RDS | Independently Built Database Services from Purchased Servers |
| Hardware, Parts and Accessories | •Memory 1200 MB: 50 GB database, 600 IOPS. •Price: RMB 2,040/year |
•The database cluster needs at least two servers with 600 IOPS, costing about RMB 6,000/set. •One Intranet switch is used to connect the front-end web servers (the price of a cheap 1U non-NMS switch is about RMB 1,000) •Additional 30% for replacing damaged hardware. •Cost of hardware: (6000× 2+1000) x 130%= RMB 16,900 •Annual cost: RMB 16,900/3= RMB 5,633 (the cost of hardware is calculated according to a 3-year depreciation period) |
| Data Center Hosting | There is no hosting fee as hosting is taken care of by a service provider. | The hosting fee of a 1U cabinet is RMB 3,000/year, and the hosting fee of two 1U servers and a 1U Intranet switch will be charged.Data center hosting fees: 3,000 x 3 = RMB 9,000 |
| Bandwidth and Traffic | Communication between ECS and RDS in the same region is done through the Intranet at no costs. However, when the ECS and RDS are in different regions, communication is done over the Internet which will incur Internet traffic fees. For details on rates please see ApsaraDB for RDS pricing details. Cost for 1 TB Internet traffic: 1000 x 1.052 = RMB 1052/year |
Only uses Intranet, does not incur Internet traffic fees |
| Labor | There is no labor cost as database maintenance is taken care of by a service provider. | The monthly salary of a junior DBA engineer is at least RMB 5,000/month. If the current project occupies 30% of the workload of the engineer, then:Personnel cost: 5000×12×30%= RMB 18,000/year |
| Total Estimated Annual Cost (RMB) | RMB 3092/year | RMB 32,633/year |
As shown in the table above, using Alibaba Cloud ApsaraDB for RDS could potentially cost 10 times less than building your own database. What's more, with ApsaraDB for RDS, you no longer need to worry about database maintenance and management. Try ApsaraDB for RDS at no costs for 60 days with our New User Free Credit!
