What is the AWS Snow Family?
The AWS Snow Family is a collection of physical devices for data transfer and edge computing. The family includes AWS Snowcone, AWS Snowball Edge, and AWS Snowmobile. Instead of transferring petabytes over the network, you copy data to encrypted hardware devices that are shipped to AWS via express delivery. There, the data is automatically imported into S3.
The Snow Family solves the problem of slow or expensive network transfers. For large data volumes, physical transport is often faster and more cost-effective than uploading via internet or dedicated lines.
Core Features
- Encrypted hardware devices from 8 TB (Snowcone) to 100 PB (Snowmobile)
- Automatic import to Amazon S3 upon arrival at AWS
- Support for NFS and S3-compatible interfaces
- Edge computing options with local compute capacity (Snowball Edge)
- Tracking and status monitoring via AWS Console
Typical Use Cases
Data Center Migration: When moving an on-premise data center to the cloud, multiple Snow Family devices can be used in parallel to efficiently migrate petabytes of data.
Backup and Archiving: Companies with large local data volumes can perform initial backups to the cloud via the Snow Family and then only synchronize incremental updates over the network.
Remote Locations: Locations with limited network connectivity can collect data locally on Snow Family devices and periodically transport them to the cloud. Snowcone is particularly suited for locations with extreme conditions.
Benefits
- Faster than network upload for large data volumes
- Predictable costs per job
- End-to-end encryption
- No bandwidth impact on existing infrastructure
Integration with innFactory
As an AWS Reseller, innFactory supports you with the AWS Snow Family: migration project planning, selecting the right device type, data transfer optimization, integration into existing backup strategies, and cost analysis versus network alternatives.
Typical Use Cases
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Snow Family more practical than a network upload?
For data volumes of 10 TB or more, the Snow Family often becomes more cost-effective and faster than network uploads. With a 1 Gbit/s connection, uploading 100 TB takes about 12 days. With Snowball Edge, the same amount can be transferred in just a few days.
What Snow Family devices are available?
AWS Snowcone is the smallest variant with 8-14 TB for remote locations. Snowball Edge Storage Optimized offers 80 TB storage for pure data migration. Snowball Edge Compute Optimized provides additional CPU and GPU capacity for edge computing. Snowmobile is a container truck for exabyte-scale migrations.
How secure is the data transport?
All data is protected with 256-bit encryption. Encryption keys are transferred separately. The devices are tamper-resistant and are securely wiped according to NIST guidelines after return.
Can I use the Snow Family in the EU?
Yes, AWS Snow Family devices are available in the EU Frankfurt region. Devices are shipped within Europe, so data doesn't need to cross continental boundaries.