Snow Family and Snowcone
Understand how the AWS Snow Family enables physical data transfer and edge computing in remote or disconnected environments.
Some services in this lesson have no free tier and will incur charges.
AWS Services Used
Learning outcomes
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Explain what the AWS Snow Family is.
- Describe what Snowcone was designed for.
- Explain the difference between online transfer and physical transfer.
- Identify when offline data transfer or edge collection is a better fit than uploading over the internet.
- Recognize the current availability caveat around Snow Family devices for new customers.
Why physical transfer exists
The AWS Snow Family is a group of physical devices used for edge computing and physical data transfer. They are designed for environments where network connectivity is limited, inconsistent, or non-existent.
A simple memory rule:
- S3 = Upload over the network.
- Snow Family = Move or process data when the network is the problem.
⚠️ Important Current Note
As of recent AWS documentation, AWS Snowball Edge is no longer available to new customers, and AWS has shifted its strategy for the Snow Family. AWS now recommends alternatives such as:
- AWS DataSync for managed online transfers.
- AWS Data Transfer Terminal for secure physical transfers.
- AWS Outposts for edge-compute use cases.
Even with these changes, understanding the Snow Family is essential for foundational AWS knowledge and recognizing edge-transfer patterns.
1) What is AWS Snowcone?
Snowcone is the smallest member of the family. It is a portable, rugged, and secure device used to collect, process, and move data to AWS.
It supports two modes of transfer:
- Offline: You copy data to the device and ship it back to AWS.
- Online: You use AWS DataSync (pre-installed) to send data over the network if a connection becomes available.
2) What is "Edge Computing"?
In the context of the Snow Family, Edge Computing means processing data near where it is generated (at the "edge" of the network) rather than sending it all to a central data center first.
This is useful for:
- Remote industrial sites (mines, oil rigs).
- Field hospitals or research stations.
- Military or emergency response environments.
- Transportation (ships, planes) with massive sensor data.
3) Snow Family Members
A) Snowcone
The smallest, ultra-portable device. Ideal for small-scale edge collection and transfer.
B) Snowball Edge
A larger, "luggage-sized" appliance. It comes in Storage Optimized (for large migrations) and Compute Optimized (for heavy edge processing) variants. Note: Currently unavailable for new customer orders.
C) Snowmobile
A massive, 45-foot long ruggedized shipping container pulled by a semi-trailer truck. It is designed to move up to 100 PB (Petabytes) of data—perfect for migrating entire data centers.
4) When to use Snow Family-style thinking?
Use physical transfer or edge devices when:
- Dataset Scale: You have hundreds of Terabytes or Petabytes of data.
- Network Speed: Your internet is so slow that a network upload would take months.
- Connectivity: You are in a remote location with no reliable internet.
- Security: You need to move highly sensitive data without it ever touching the public internet.
Quick Reference: Snow vs. Network
| Method | Best For | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| S3 Upload | Everyday files, small backups | Stable internet |
| AWS DataSync | Fast, automated online transfer | Some network bandwidth |
| Snowcone | Portable edge data/shipping | Physical shipping path |
| Snowmobile | Massive data center migrations | A very large parking lot |
Micro-activity 1: Pick the Right Tool
Transfer Scenarios
Based on the requirements, which approach is the best fit?
Examples
Choose one, then match it on the right
Characteristics
Select an example first
0 of 4 matched so far.
Micro-activity 2: Key Concepts
Snow Terminology
Match the concept to its core meaning.
Examples
Choose one, then match it on the right
Characteristics
Select an example first
0 of 4 matched so far.
Summary
The AWS Snow Family solves the "network bottleneck." When your data is too big or your location is too remote for the internet, AWS uses physical devices like Snowcone and Snowmobile to get your data into the cloud. While the device lineup is evolving, the principle of Edge Computing and Physical Transfer remains a core part of AWS architecture.