Aurora 3 (MySQL 8) automatic upgrade on a non supported instance

Question

With MySQL 5.7 losing support in December 2023, our team will need to upgrade our RDS version from Aurora 2.x to Aurora 3.x

However, given our schedule, we have difficulty allocating time to do so. With that I have read that AWS will automatically upgrade the RDS version in the next maintenance window after the deprecation date.
BUT, one of our instances does not support Aurora 3.x and up.

see: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/AuroraUserGuide/Concepts.DBInstanceClass.html

I'm just wondering what would happen to that instance if we do not upgrade within the window. Will AWS still attempt to upgrade the Aurora version?

Answer

Hi

Based on https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/AuroraUserGuide/USER_UpgradeDBInstance.Maintenance.html, you can defer the update until it gets into required status:

```
required – The maintenance action will be applied to the resource and can't be deferred indefinitely.
```

Also see https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/AuroraUserGuide/extended-support.html

```
After a major engine version of your database reaches the Aurora end of standard support date, 
Amazon RDS automatically upgrades your databases to the next supported major engine version. 
With Amazon RDS Extended Support, you can continue running your database on a major engine 
version past the Aurora end of standard support date for an additional cost.
```

So, you go beyond with such an old version but it has an additional cost.

Best,

Didier

Aurora 3 (MySQL 8) automatic upgrade on a non supported instance

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