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cache.m1.medium (Amazon ElastiCache Instance Overview)

Instance Details

vCPUMemoryNetwork PerformanceInstance FamilyInstance Generation
13.35 GiBModerateStandardPrevious

Pricing Analysis

Filters

RegionON DEMAND1 Year Reserved (All Upfront)
US West (Oregon)$0.112-
US East (N. Virginia)$0.112-

cache.m1.medium Related Instances

Instance NamevCPUMemory
cache.m1.small11.3 GiB
cache.m1.medium13.35 GiB
cache.m1.large27.1 GiB
cache.m1.xlarge414.6 GiB

Use Cases for cache.m1.medium

Primary Use Cases

  • Low-to-moderate traffic web applications that require in-memory caching without stressing server resources.
  • Proof-of-concept (PoC) systems or applications that test out caching benefits before transitioning to larger-scale architectures.
  • Simple caching for session storage and small-size key-value stores.
  • Low-demand machine learning or data analytics jobs requiring basic caching as part of a broader data processing pipeline.

When to Use cache.m1.medium

The cache.m1.medium instance is ideal in situations where your application requires basic caching needs without demanding significant compute power or memory overhead. For example, content-heavy websites with small lookup tables or lightweight data caching operations may benefit from using this instance type. For startups or small businesses in earlier stages of cloud adoption, this instance offers a cost-effective entry point to use ElastiCache without committing higher budgets upfront.

When Not to Use cache.m1.medium

If your workload involves high computational demands, high traffic levels, or requires enhanced throughput, then cache.m1.medium is unlikely to meet the necessary performance standards, and using it could lead to bottlenecks. Larger applications involving heavy data calculations or highly concurrent reads and writes should consider the m5 series for improved memory handling and CPU power. Furthermore, for workloads requiring high network bandwidth (such as streaming services or real-time applications), using the r-series or c-series would be more appropriate. Lastly, the t-series options offer superior cost scaling for workloads that experience variable traffic and might reduce operational costs further.

Understanding the m1 Series

Overview of the Series

The m1 series represents the first generation of general-purpose instance types in Amazon ElastiCache. As one of the original series offered in the ElastiCache family, the m1 series aims to provide a balanced ratio of compute, memory, and network resources, making it suitable for smaller-scale applications and proof-of-concept (PoC) environments. Instances like the cache.m1.medium in the m1 series offer sufficient resources to handle standard caching workloads but at a lower price compared to newer generations. This series helps organizations experimenting with ElastiCache, deploying workloads with moderate resource requirements, and avoiding the higher costs of the latest instance offerings.

Key Improvements Over Previous Generations

Since the m1 series was one of the inaugural offerings for ElastiCache, it does not have a predecessor in terms of general-purpose caching instances. However, newer generations, such as the m3 and m5, bring key improvements in performance, higher memory, and crucial enhancements to storage technologies, enabling rapid data processing and better support for scaling environments with larger caching workloads.

Comparative Analysis

  • Primary Comparison: The m1 series, when compared to upgraded series like m3, falls behind in several aspects, such as CPU performance, network bandwidth, and RAM optimization. However, for smaller-scale caching needs where high throughput isn't essential, the m1 series still performs well.

    • The cache.m1.medium features dual-core processors and approximately 3.35 GB of memory. In contrast, instances in the m3 series offer more modern Intel processors, faster clock speeds, enhanced memory, and improved networking capabilities while maintaining similar pricing.
  • Brief Comparison with Relevant Series:

    • General-purpose series (m-series): The m1 series was designed for general-purpose caching needs, balancing memory and CPU. Newer m-series (m3, m5, etc.) improve upon this, delivering significant upgrades in both processing capacity and enhanced network bandwidth, making them better for broader caching applications at larger scales.

    • Compute-optimized series (c-series): For compute-heavy caching applications that necessitate faster CPU operations, the compute-optimized instances (c-series) such as cache.c3.large or cache.c5.large should be strongly considered. These instances outperform the m1 series significantly in terms of CPU performance and are better suited to tasks like complex sorting jobs or CPU-bound operations.

    • Cost-effective series (t-series): If moderate traffic applications that experience sporadic load spikes are part of your workload, alternatives like the t-series (cache.t2.micro, cache.t3.micro, etc.) may be more suitable. These burstable performance instances allow short bursts of high performance while keeping costs lower.

    • Series with high bandwidth (r-series): In cases that demand high throughput and network bandwidth, such as real-time analytics, the r-series (cache.r5.large and higher) provides superior performance, in contrast to the m1 series, which lacks the capabilities needed for such high-demand scenarios.

Migration and Compatibility

Migrating off of the m1 series to newer-generation instances is highly recommended for workloads requiring better performance and reliability. Before migrating, it’s important to consider the required compatibility between the new instance class and existing Redis or Memcached versions. ElastiCache provides smooth in-place upgrading capabilities with minimal disruptions, including seamless backups and default parameter group adjustments. However, testing the new instance types in a dev environment before production deployments is advisable to ensure compatibility and stable performance gains.