AWS Enhances Cloud Desktops with New High-Performance Instances
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched two new workstation-class cloud desktop instances as part of its WorkSpaces offering. These new instances, GeneralPurpose.4xlarge and GeneralPurpose.8xlarge, cater to users seeking powerful virtual desktops for resource-intensive tasks.
New Instance Specifications
The GeneralPurpose.4xlarge instance boasts 16 vCPUs, 64GB of memory, a 175GB root volume to host the operating system, and an additional 100GB of storage for files. Its larger counterpart, the GeneralPurpose.8xlarge, is the first AWS instance to provide 32 vCPUs. This model offers double the capacity, with 128GB of memory and the same storage setup as the smaller instance.
Both options are tailored for demanding workloads, including software compilation, data analysis with applications like Matlab and R, and engineering projects typically run on high-end workstations. These cloud-based desktops provide users with workstation-grade power accessible from virtually anywhere.
Pricing
The GeneralPurpose.4xlarge instance is priced at $295 per month, while the more robust GeneralPurpose.8xlarge costs $590 per month. Alternatively, customers can choose pay-as-you-go hourly rates of $2.28 and $4.56 respectively, after a $19 monthly fee. These prices apply to setups including Windows licenses. Users bringing their own licenses see marginal savings, though the reduction is less than 10%. Currently, the new instances are Windows-only, with no pricing information for Linux systems available.
Addressing Video Conferencing Challenges
While AWS touts the high performance of these new instances, it also highlights a persistent issue with video conferencing on cloud desktops. Applications like Microsoft Teams face challenges in maintaining seamless video and audio quality due to the continuous, real-time data flow these tasks require. To mitigate this, AWS recommends its most powerful WorkSpaces configurations for optimal video conferencing performance.
Even with these improvements, AWS and rival providers still face hurdles in delivering an ideal video call experience through virtual desktops. Solutions often involve redirecting data flows to local devices or relying on more compute-heavy instances, as AWS appears to advocate with its latest launch.
Streamlined Image Migration
Alongside the hardware upgrades, AWS has introduced updates to its Amazon EC2 Image Builder. Organizations now have the ability to convert their “golden” Windows ISO files directly into Amazon Machine Images (AMIs), simplifying the process of migrating familiar setups into the AWS cloud ecosystem. This also allows for greater consistency when adopting cloud desktops, leveraging existing PC management tools and procedures.
These new features aim to address the needs of businesses requiring high-performance cloud desktops, while AWS continues to fine-tune its offerings to overcome the inherent challenges of remote work environments.
