AWS Snowball features

AWS Snowball devices feature high-speed network connections and optical interfaces. All encryption is performed on the device itself, helping enable a higher data throughput rate and shorter data migration times. For device specific networking specifications, please see Snowball documentation.

AWS Snowball Edge Compute Optimized accelerates an application’s performance in disconnected environments. Using the GPU option, you can run applications such as advanced machine learning and full motion video analysis in environments with little or no connectivity.

You can create a storage cluster using multiple Snowball devices when running edge computing jobs for increased storage durability of on-premise applications. When creating a new job in the Console, select the option to make a storage cluster. In the event of a device failure, a replacement device can be ordered easily through the Console. This functionality is available for local storage and compute jobs and is not enabled for data migration jobs or devices with EKS Anywhere enabled.

You can create an Amazon EKS Anywhere cluster using one or more Snowball devices for your Kubernetes deployments. When creating a new job in the Console, under the Features and options step, you can choose the number of devices you want in your Kubernetes cluster and to include Amazon EKS Anywhere on them.

Applications can work with S3 compatible storage through S3 API compatible endpoint accessed through AWS OpsHub, S3 SDK or CLI. For specific information, see the API documentation.

You can transfer data with S3 Adapter on Snow through an S3-API compatible endpoint accessed through AWS OpsHub, S3 SDK or CLI. For specific information, see the API documentation.

You can run block storage on both Snowball Edge Compute Optimized and Snowball Edge Storage Optimized devices. You attach block storage volumes to Amazon EC2 instances using a subset of the Amazon EBS API that enable you to configure and manage volumes for EC2 instances on Snowball devices. This makes it easier to develop applications in EC2, and then run them in disconnected and remote locations. Snowball supports both performance optimized and capacity optimized volume types.

AWS Snowball devices are compliant for highly regulated industries in both the public and private sectors required to, or highly preferred to choose solutions that meet either HIPPA or FedRamp compliance standards.

AWS Snow Family devices have a ruggedized case designed for durability and portability. Snowcone is the smallest device while the Snowball device is the larger device.

AWS OpsHub is an complimentary application for managing the AWS Snow Family devices. The OpsHub graphical user interface (GUI) makes it easy to setup and manage Snow devices so you can rapidly deploy edge computing workloads and migrate data to the cloud – even when you don’t have an internet connection. Download AWS OpsHub here and install it on Windows, Mac, or Linux client machines, such as a laptop. For more information, refer to the AWS OpsHub documentation.

Applications can work with Snow Family devices as an NFS mount point. NFS v3 and v4.1 are supported so you can easily use Snow devices with your existing on-premises servers and file-based applications. The file system metadata is preserved until the files are converted into objects once migrated into an S3 bucket.

AWS Snow Family devices have computing resources to collect and process data with AWS services at the edge. Devices run specific Amazon EC2 instances with processing and storage available to support your applications and AWS IoT Greengrass functions.

All data moved to AWS Snow Family devices is automatically encrypted with 256-bit encryption keys that are managed by the AWS Key Management Service (KMS). The encryption keys are never stored on the device to help ensure your data stays secure during transit.

Snow Family devices can efficiently move data by physically shipping the hardware with your data to a specified AWS Region where data will be put into your specified Amazon S3 bucket. S3 buckets should be configured before you order your Snow device. For online data migrations, see AWS Snowcone.

AWS Snow devices feature a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) that provides a hardware root of trust. The TPM also provides interfaces to the trusted software stack during the measurements and verification of the boot environment integrity after the power is switched on, and before the Snow device is ready to be used. AWS also uses additional tamper-indicating inspection processes after each device is received back to the AWS Region. This helps to ensure the integrity of the device, and with the AWS Snow service’s encryption features, it helps preserve the confidentiality of your data.

AWS Snow devices use an innovative, E-Ink shipping label for easy tracking and automatic label updates so devices are sent to the correct AWS facility. Once you have completed your data migration job, it can be tracked via Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS), text messages, and via the AWS Console.

Once the data migration job has been processed and verified, AWS performs a software erasure of the Snow device that follows the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines for media sanitization.

Amazon S3 compatible storage is ideal for applications with object storage that require local, real-time decisions or are bound by data residency requirements in rugged, mobile edge, and disconnected environments. Use common Amazon S3 APIs and features to easily develop, deploy and manage applications requiring object storage. Benefit from built-in resiliency, security, performance, and the most frequently used Amazon S3 features.

Check this Snowball documentation page for the complete list of hardware specs, including interfaces, thermal and power requirements, decibel output, and dimensions.