Amazon Discontinues Snowcone Devices and Older Snowball Edge Models

The Digital Artisan -

Amazon Announces Discontinuation of Snowcone Data Migration Devices

In a notable move for cloud and edge computing, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has decided to retire its Snowcone data migration devices and certain older models of its robust Snowball Edge appliances. These tools have traditionally been used to migrate large quantities of data in scenarios where transferring over the internet was not feasible. The discontinuation comes amid a broader industry shift favoring new and improved migration methods, particularly cloud-centric services such as AWS DataSync and AWS Direct Connect.

What Is the AWS Snowcone?

The Snowcone was a compact, ruggedized NAS (Network Attached Storage) device, designed to support offline data migration to AWS infrastructure through physical transport. Measuring just 9x6x3 inches, these devices were lightweight but powerful, offering either 8TB hard disk or 14TB SSD storage options, depending on the customer’s requirements. Once loaded with data, the Snowcone could be sent back to Amazon, and the data would be loaded into the customer's designated Amazon S3 bucket. This offered a reliable alternative for industries where direct migration via the internet wasn’t practical.

Existing Users Have a Grace Period

The discontinuation is not immediate for all users. AWS has assured customers who already have Snowcone devices that they will continue to receive full support until next year, giving them enough time to complete data migrations and ship the devices back to Amazon before they effectively become obsolete. However, AWS emphasizes that users should proceed with their migrations sooner rather than later to avoid disruptions.

Older Snowball Edge Devices Also Affected

Besides the Snowcone, AWS is also retiring specific older models of its Snowball Edge lineup, a more advanced version of physical data migration devices. The affected models are:

  • Snowball Edge Storage Optimized (80GB)
  • Snowball Edge Compute Optimized with 52 vCPUs
  • Snowball Edge Compute Optimized with GPU

These older models are well known for their versatility in both storage and compute tasks, primarily aimed at environments requiring robust hardware packed in a suitcase-like form factor. However, these options will disappear, though AWS will continue supporting and offering the more modern generations of Snowball Edge appliances. The latest storage-optimized version offers up to 210TB of NVMe storage, and compute-focused models boast 104 vCPUs for more resource-intensive applications.

Cloud Services Taking Over

AWS’s decision to sunset Snowcone and older Snowball Edge models ties into its broader recommendation for customers to use cloud migration tools like DataSync and AWS Direct Connect for simpler and more efficient online data migration. For those needing extra compute power for edge tasks, AWS now suggests switching to its 1U and 2U on-prem systems, such as its Outpost hardware, designed to offer powerful compute capabilities, scalability, and cloud integration without the bulky form factor.

This move is part of an ongoing trend in data migration, where enterprises are looking for faster, cloud-connected solutions that reduce the time and complexity of transferring huge datasets. The shift from physical devices like Snowcone and Snowball to more automated and internet-based solutions reflects this growing demand, especially as cloud infrastructure and bandwidth capabilities rapidly improve.