Over 3 days, I planned, executed, and documented the entire process. Here’s how I successfully completed the downgrade while maintaining service availability.
Introduction
In cloud engineering, cost optimization without compromising performance is a skill every professional must master. Recently, I faced a real-world challenge: one of my projects running on AWS Lightsail required a downgrade to a smaller instance to reduce monthly costs. The catch? I had to ensure zero downtime and data integrity.
🛠 Project Objective
Task: Downgrade AWS Lightsail instance to a smaller plan.
Goal: Achieve cost savings while keeping the application online.
📌 Project Context
A client’s web application was running on an oversized AWS Lightsail instance. The workload was consistently under-utilizing CPU, memory, and storage resources, which meant unnecessary monthly costs. The client requested a downgrade to a smaller Lightsail instance without affecting uptime, performance, or security.
As a Cloud & DevOps Engineer, I took ownership of the entire migration and cost-optimization project, delivering results in 3 days.
🎯 Objectives
- Downgrade AWS Lightsail to a smaller instance.
- Ensure zero downtime during migration.
- Maintain SSL, Nginx, and PM2 configurations for seamless performance.
- Implement rollback and backup strategies to avoid risk.
- Document the entire process for transparency and client knowledge.
📍 End-to-End Execution
Day 1: Assessment & Planning
Assessment & Planning
Reviewed resource utilization metrics (CPU, RAM, Disk) via Lightsail Monitoring and CloudWatch.
1. Resource Utilization Analysis
- Logged into AWS Lightsail Dashboard.
- Checked CPU, RAM, and Network metrics via built-in monitoring.
- Cross-verified with CloudWatch metrics for accurate trend analysis.
- Identified that the current instance size was over-provisioned (using ~30% capacity).
2. Downgrade Strategy Design
- Determined the target instance size that could handle peak loads.
- Outlined a rollback plan using snapshots.
-
Created a migration checklist covering:
- Application files
- Database
- Nginx configuration
- SSL certificates
- Environment variables
3. Backup Creation
- Took a snapshot of the existing Lightsail instance for disaster recovery.
- Exported database dump for redundancy using
mysqldump.
🎯 What I achieved on Day 1:
Identified the current instance type and determined a smaller instance plan suitable for the workload.
Created a rollback plan in case of failure.
Backed up the existing instance snapshot for disaster recovery.
Day 2: Environment Setup & Migration
1. Provisioning the New Lightsail Instance
- Launched a new Lightsail instance with the downgraded size.
- Configured SSH keys for secure access.
- Set up networking (firewall rules, static IP).
2. Application Environment Configuration
- Installed required packages:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install nginx mysql-client nodejs npm -y
sudo npm install -g pm2
- Pulled application files from transferred via SCP.
- Restored environment variables from
.envfile.
3. Database Migration
- Created a new MySQL instance inside Lightsail (or reused existing).
- Imported the database:
mysql -u username -p database_name < backup.sql
4. Nginx & SSL Setup
- Configured Nginx virtual host with HTTPS redirect.
- Installed Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate with Certbot:
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y
sudo certbot --nginx -d example.com -d www.example.com
- Validated with
nginx -tand reloaded.
5. Application Process Management
- Started application with PM2:
pm2 start app.js --name myapp
pm2 save
pm2 startup
- Ensured auto-start on reboot.
🎯 What I achieved on Day 2 – Environment Preparation:
Provisioned a new Lightsail instance with the downgraded size.
Configured security groups, firewall rules, and SSH access.
Migrated application files and environment variables from the old server.
Installed and configured necessary dependencies (Nginx, Node.js, PM2, etc.).
Validated that all services ran as expected on the smaller instance.
Day 3: DNS Cutover & Validation
1. DNS Redirection
- Updated Lightsail static IP for the new instance.
2. Testing & Monitoring
- Verified that HTTPS was redirecting correctly.
- Tested login/admin pages to ensure proper routing.
- Confirmed API endpoints (
devapi.flexdelivery24.com) were functional. - Monitored logs with:
tail -f /var/log/nginx/access.log
tail -f /var/log/nginx/error.log
- Monitored CPU & RAM usage under live traffic for 24 hours.
3. Final Optimization
- Cleaned up unused packages and logs.
- Documented final server architecture and cost savings.
- Shared final access and rollback documentation with the client.
🎯 What I achieved on Day 3 – Cutover & Optimization
Redirected DNS records to the new Lightsail instance.
Tested application endpoints, admin login pages, and SSL configuration.
Verified user sessions and ensured HTTPS redirection was functioning properly.
Monitored server health (CPU/RAM) under production traffic for stability.
Documented the final architecture and cost reduction achieved.
✅ Deliverables
- New Lightsail downgraded instance in production.
- Full rollback snapshot in case of failure.
- SSL-secured environment with automated renewals.
- Updated DNS configuration with zero downtime.
- Detailed post-migration documentation.
📊 Results & Impact
- Cost Reduction: ~40% lower monthly Lightsail bill.
- Zero Downtime: Application stayed online throughout the migration.
- Performance Stability: New instance running at ~65% capacity under peak load.
- Client Satisfaction: A leaner, secure, and efficient environment.
🏆 Impact
This project reinforced my ability to balance cost optimization and reliability. With a careful step-by-step approach, I delivered results that aligned with business goals while maintaining system uptime.
💡 Lessons Learned
- Always benchmark workloads before downsizing to prevent under-provisioning.
- Snapshots and database dumps are critical for safe rollbacks.
- DNS cutover timing is crucial—setting a low TTL can make transitions smoother.
- Post-migration monitoring ensures the environment remains stable under real traffic.
🏆 Conclusion
This project demonstrates my ability to manage cloud cost optimization while balancing availability, security, and scalability. Over 3 days, I delivered a solution that not only reduced costs but also improved infrastructure efficiency.
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