Azure Spot Instances
Azure Spot Instances provide a cost-effective way to run workloads by taking advantage of unused capacity in Azure. They offer significant cost savings compared to pay-as-you-go prices but come with the risk of eviction when Azure needs the capacity back.
2 minute read
Overview
Azure Spot Instances allow you to take advantage of unused Azure capacity at a discounted rate. They are ideal for workloads that can tolerate interruptions, such as batch processing, dev/test environments, and large-scale stateless applications.
Core Functionality
- Pricing Model: Save up to 90% compared to pay-as-you-go prices by using unused capacity.
- Eviction Policy: Spot VMs can be evicted based on capacity needs or if the maximum price you set is exceeded. Eviction can occur with as little as 30 seconds’ notice.
- No SLA: Spot Instances do not come with an SLA, meaning there is no guaranteed uptime.
- Capacity Availability: Availability of Spot Instances varies based on region, time of day, and other factors.
Well-Architected Framework
Operational Excellence
- Automation: Use Azure Automation to manage and monitor Spot Instances, ensuring they are efficiently utilized and automatically redeployed if evicted.
- Monitoring: Implement Azure Monitor to track the performance and availability of Spot Instances, setting up alerts for eviction events.
Security
- Network Security: Apply Network Security Groups (NSGs) to control inbound and outbound traffic to Spot Instances.
- Identity Management: Use Azure Active Directory (AAD) for secure access and identity management.
Reliability
- Redundancy: Design your architecture to handle the eviction of Spot Instances by using redundant instances or fallback to standard VMs.
- Data Persistence: Ensure data is stored in persistent storage solutions like Azure Blob Storage or Azure Managed Disks to prevent data loss during evictions.
Performance Efficiency
- Scaling: Use Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets to automatically scale Spot Instances based on demand and availability.
- Optimization: Continuously monitor and optimize the performance of Spot Instances to ensure they meet workload requirements.
Cost Optimization
- Budgeting: Set maximum prices for Spot Instances to control costs and avoid unexpected expenses.
- Utilization: Regularly review and adjust the usage of Spot Instances to maximize cost savings.
Sustainability
- Resource Efficiency: Use Spot Instances to make efficient use of Azure’s unused capacity, reducing the overall environmental impact.
- Energy Consumption: Monitor and optimize the energy consumption of your workloads running on Spot Instances.
References
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