How can I use CloudWatch metrics to calculate the average throughput and average number of IOPS my EBS volume is providing?

Short description

You can use Amazon CloudWatch metrics to monitor the status of your EBS volumes. Then, use this data to determine the average number of IOPS provided and the average throughput of your volume.

Calculate the actual average IOPS in Ops/s with the following formula:
((VolumeReadOps)+(VolumeWriteOps))/((Period)−(VolumeIdleTime))

Calculate the average IOPS in Ops/s with the following formula:
((VolumeReadOps)+(VolumeWriteOps))/(Period)

For more information, see How can I identify if my Amazon EBS volume is micro-bursting and then prevent this from happening?

Calculate the actual average throughput in bytes/s with the following formula:
((VolumeReadBytes)+(VolumeWriteBytes))/((Period)−(VolumeIdleTime))

Calculate the average throughput in bytes/s with the following formula:
((VolumeReadBytes)+(VolumeWriteBytes))/(Period)

Note: The Sum statistic in CloudWatch for VolumeReadBytes and VolumeWriteBytes reports the total number of bytes transferred during the specified period.

Resolution

1. Open the CloudWatch console.
2. Under Metrics in the sidebar, choose All metrics.
3. Choose EBS, and then choose Per-Volume Metrics.
4. Select the metrics that you want to graph:
   To graph the actual average IOPS, select VolumeReadOps, VolumeWriteOps, and VolumeIdleTime.
   To graph the actual average throughput, select VolumeReadBytes, VolumeWriteBytes, and VolumeIdleTime.
5. To graph the average IOPS, select VolumeReadOps, VolumeWriteOps.
6. To graph the average throughput, select VolumeReadBytes, VolumeWriteBytes.
7. Choose the Graphed metrics tab.
8. In the Statistic dropdown list, choose Sum.
9. Choose the period of time that you want to view from the Period dropdown list.
   Note: The Period in the previously mentioned formulas represents a given time in CloudWatch. The specified Period of the CloudWatch graph equals the volume's collection period.
10. To graph the actual average, in the Add math dropdown list, choose Start with empty expression. Then, enter the following expression:(m1+m2)/(PERIOD(m1)−m3).
11. To graph the average, in the Add math dropdown list, choose Start with empty expression. Then, enter the following expression: (m1+m2)/(PERIOD(m1)).
12. Choose Apply.

Related information

How does Amazon EBS calculate the optimal I/O size I should use to improve performance on my gp2 or io1 volume?