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Getting Started with Databases: Estimating Costs for MySQL Amazon RDS with Direct Connect

Learn which factors impact the estimated cost of a MySQL Amazon RDS database instance when using AWS Direct Connect. Understand data transfer pricing for RDS.

Table of Contents

Question

A new application requires a MySQL Amazon RDS database. Assuming a developer is using an Direct Connect connection into AWS, which factor will contribute to the estimated cost of the Amazon RDS instance?

A. Expected volume of data transfer both into and out of the database
B. Expected volume of data transfer out of the database
C. Expected volume of data transfer into the database
D. Expected volume of data transfer is not a factor because AWS Direct Connect is in use

Answer

B. Expected volume of data transfer out of the database

Explanation

Data transfer exceeding more than 1 gigabyte (GB) per month out of an Amazon RDS instance is billable on a per GB basis. The use of AWS Direct Connect does not eliminate this cost. There is no cost for data transfers within a region.

The correct answer is B. The expected volume of data transfer out of the Amazon RDS database will contribute to the estimated cost of the RDS instance, even when using AWS Direct Connect.

With Amazon RDS, you only pay for data transferred out of your database, not data transferred into it. So the volume of inbound data transfer will not impact your RDS costs, regardless of whether you use a Direct Connect connection or not.

While using AWS Direct Connect can help reduce data transfer costs compared to using the public internet, there are still fees associated with data transferred out from AWS services like RDS over a Direct Connect connection. AWS charges a lower rate for outbound RDS data transfer over Direct Connect compared to the internet, but it is not free.

Therefore, when estimating the cost of a MySQL RDS instance accessed via Direct Connect, the expected outbound data transfer volume is an important factor to consider, while the inbound data transfer volume will not impact the price. The more data you expect to be read and transferred out of your RDS database, the higher your estimated RDS costs will be.

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