Offline Data Transfer and Edge Computing with the AWS Snow Family
Learn the device selection criteria for Snowcone, Snowball Edge, and Snowmobile, along with edge EC2/Lambda execution and planning for large-scale data migrations.
Snow Family Device Selection
The Snow Family is a service for migrating large volumes of data to AWS using physical devices when network transfer is impractical. Snowcone (8 TB HDD / 14 TB SSD) is the smallest device, weighing just 2.1 kg in a portable form factor. It is ideal for data collection in remote locations with limited bandwidth. Snowball Edge Storage Optimized (80 TB) is best suited for large-scale data migrations, offering faster and more cost-effective transfer than network-based methods for datasets exceeding 10 TB. Snowball Edge Compute Optimized features 104 vCPUs and a GPU, supporting machine learning inference and data preprocessing at the edge. For ultra-large migrations exceeding 100 PB, Snowmobile (100 PB) is available.
Edge Computing Use Cases
Snowball Edge Compute Optimized can run EC2-compatible instances and Lambda functions at edge locations. A typical use case is running image inspection on a factory production line, storing results locally, and syncing to S3 when connectivity is restored. Computing continues even in environments with intermittent internet connectivity, such as ships or mines. Since it uses S3-compatible APIs for data read/write, applications developed in the cloud can be deployed to the edge as-is. Integration with AWS IoT Greengrass also enables combining IoT device data collection with edge processing.
Planning Data Migrations
When planning a data migration, start by comparing the data volume against available network bandwidth. Transferring 100 TB over a 100 Mbps connection would take approximately 100 days, but with Snowball Edge it can be completed in just a few days. Order a device from the AWS console, copy your data to the delivered device, and ship it back - AWS then imports the data into S3. Using multiple devices in parallel enables petabyte-scale migrations to be completed in just a few weeks. Data copying uses either the OpsHub GUI or the AWS CLI snowballEdge commands. After transfer is complete, data on the device is erased following NIST 800-88 compliant procedures. For a comprehensive understanding of the Snow Family, related books (Amazon) are also a helpful reference.
Snow Family Pricing
Snow Family pricing is based on device usage days. Snowcone costs approximately $60 per day, and Snowball Edge Storage Optimized costs approximately $300 per day. Shipping fees are charged separately and vary by region. Device usage typically includes 10 days, with overage charged at a daily rate. Importing data to S3 is free, but exporting from S3 incurs data transfer charges. Migrating 100 TB with Snowball Edge costs approximately $5,000-$6,000 including device and shipping fees, which is less expensive than the data transfer charges (approximately $9,000) for transferring the same volume over the internet.
Summary
The Snow Family is a service that provides large-scale data migration when network transfer is impractical, along with computing in edge environments with limited connectivity. Choose devices based on data volume - Snowcone (8-14 TB), Snowball Edge (80-210 TB), or Snowmobile (100 PB) - and run EC2 or Lambda in offline environments with edge computing.