How can I use a SAW runbook to change Intel-powered EC2 instances to the equivalent AMD-powered instance types?

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I want to right-size my workload using the AWSPremiumSupport-ChangeInstanceTypeIntelToAMD AWS Support Automation Workflow (SAW) runbook.

Short description

The AWSPremiumSupport-ChangeInstanceTypeIntelToAMD runbook provides an automated solution to resize your x86 Nitro-powered EC2 M, C, R, and T family instances. You can resize to comparable EC2 instances with AMD EPYC processors. The runbook provides an optional parameter, TargetInstanceType, that allows you to choose the new instance type.

For more information on SAW, see AWS Support Automation Workflows (SAW).

Important: Access to the AWSPremiumSupport-ChangeInstanceTypeIntelToAMD runbook requires an Enterprise or Business Support subscription. For more information, see Compare AWS Support Plans.

Resolution

The following characteristics are validated by the AWSPremiumSupport-ChangeInstanceTypeIntelToAMD runbook:

  • The EC2 instance status, properties, lifecycle, tenancy, status checks, and shutdown behavior.
  • If the EC2 instance is part of an Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling group.
  • The EC2 instance type options.
  • The AWS Marketplace product codes.
  • If the EC2 instance is part of an AWS CloudFormation.
  • The root volume type.
  • The compatible AMD instance types and the availability of AMD Instances in same Availability Zone.
  • The eventual consistency.

The following permissions are required for the current user or assumed AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) service role used to run the automation:

  • Stop instances
  • Change instance type
  • Start instances

If the running EC2 instance doesn't pass status checks after changing the instance type, the runbook automatically rolls back to the previous instance type.

Successful runbook execution displays output of the changes that occurred to the EC2 instance type.

Prerequisites

Before running the runbook, make sure that your IAM user or role has the correct permissions.

Run the AWSPremiumSupport-ChangeInstanceTypeIntelToAMD automation

1.    Open the AWSPremiumSupport-ChangeInstanceTypeIntelToAMD.

2.    Select Execute automation.

For input parameters, enter the following:

  • InstanceId (required): This is the ID of the managed instance.
  • Acknowledge (required): Enter yes if you acknowledge that this runbook changes the instance type by stopping and starting a running EC2 instance. When the instance is stopped, any data stored in the RAM or in instance store volumes is lost. The automatic public IPv4 address is also released. For more information, see Stop and start your instance.
  • AutomationAssumeRole (optional): This is the Amazon Resource Name (ARN) of the IAM role that allows Systems Manager Automation to perform the actions on your behalf. If a role isn't specified, Systems Manager Automation uses the permissions of the user that starts the runbook.
  • AllowInstanceStoreInstances (optional): If set to yes, then the runbook runs on instances with instance store (ephemeral) volumes.
    Warning: Data in instance store volumes is lost when the instance is stopped. This parameter helps avoid accidental data loss. If the instance is running, then it must be stopped to change the instance type.
  • AllowCrossGeneration (optional): If set to yes, then the runbook looks for newest generation equivalent AMD-powered EC2 instance types within the same family (for example, c5.large to c6a.large). The default option no returns the equivalent AMD type within the same instance family and generation (for example, c5.large to c5a.large).
  • TargetInstanceType (Optional): The target AMD-powered EC2 instance type. The default automatic option finds the equivalent instance type in terms of number of virtual CPUs and memory.
    For example, m6i.large is changed to m6a.large. You can optionally specify a supported AMD instance type (for example, t3a.large).
    Note: Only M, C, R, and T AMD-powered instance families are supported.
  • AllowCloudFormationInstances (Optional): If set to yes, then the runbook makes changes on instances that are part of an AWS CloudFormation stack. Important: Don't make any changes to stack resources outside of CloudFormation. Making changes to your stack resources outside of CloudFormation causes drift and might put your stack in an unrecoverable state.
  • SleepWait (Optional): The time this runbook waits after finishing execution. This parameter accepts time values in ISO 8601 date and time format. For more information about the supported date and time format, see Delay an automation.
  • DryRun (Optional): If set to yes, then the runbook only returns the equivalent AMD-powered EC2 instance type and validates requirements. The instance type isn't actually changed.

3.     Select Execute. The automation initiates.

4.    After completed, you can review the Outputs section for the detailed results of the execution:

  • GetInstanceProperties.CurrentInstanceType" Current instance type
  • GetcomparableAMDTypeFilter.comparableAMDType: Comparable Instance Type (AMD)
  • GetcomparableAMDTypeFilter.DryRun: DryRun input parameter value

For more information how to run this SAW runbook, see AWSPremiumSupport-ChangeInstanceTypeIntelToAMD

Note: To help you troubleshoot, remediate, manage, and reduce costs on your AWS resources, AWS Support maintains a subset of the AWS provided predefined runbooks. These runbooks are prefixed with AWSSupport- or AWSPremiumSupport-.

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