Comparison: Aurora Serverless v2 vs. Aurora Serverless v1
1. Database Engine & Compatibility
| Feature | Aurora Serverless v2 | Aurora Serverless v1 |
|---|---|---|
| Supported DB Engines | Aurora MySQL, Aurora PostgreSQL | Aurora MySQL, Aurora PostgreSQL |
| Supported Versions | Supports newer versions (e.g., MySQL 8.0) | Supports older versions (e.g., MySQL 5.7) |
| Upgrading | Manual major version upgrades (e.g., PostgreSQL 13 → 14 → 15) | Automatic minor upgrades, but major upgrades must be done manually |
| Conversion from Provisioned Cluster | Add Aurora Serverless v2 DB instances to an existing cluster | Must restore a snapshot from a provisioned cluster |
| Conversion from Aurora Serverless v1 | Upgrade process available | Not applicable |
Example:
If you're using Aurora MySQL 5.7 in Serverless v1, you must migrate to a new cluster to use MySQL 8.0 in Serverless v2.
2. Scaling & Availability
| Feature | Aurora Serverless v2 | Aurora Serverless v1 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Capacity (ACUs) | 0.5 when running, 0 when paused | 1 (MySQL) or 2 (PostgreSQL) when running, 0 when paused |
| Maximum Capacity (ACUs) | 256 (MySQL & PostgreSQL) | 256 (MySQL), 384 (PostgreSQL) |
| Scaling Granularity | Increments of 0.5 ACUs | Doubles or halves capacity (e.g., 2 → 4 → 8 ACUs) |
| Scaling During SQL Execution | Yes, no need to wait | No, must wait for transactions to complete |
| Multi-AZ Support | Yes, supports failover across Availability Zones | No, only runs in a single AZ |
| Failover Handling | Fast failover, like provisioned clusters | Best-effort failover, may take longer |
| Global Database Support | Yes, can replicate to other AWS regions | No, limited to a single AWS region |
| Buffer Cache Preservation on Scaling | Yes, dynamically resized | No, requires cache rewarming (may slow queries after scaling) |
Example:
If your database needs to handle spikes in traffic, Serverless v2 can scale in 0.5 ACU increments dynamically, while v1 might double capacity abruptly, causing potential over-provisioning.
3. Networking & Connectivity
| Feature | Aurora Serverless v2 | Aurora Serverless v1 |
|---|---|---|
| Port Flexibility | Any MySQL/PostgreSQL-compatible port | Fixed to default MySQL/PostgreSQL port |
| Public IP Allowed? | Yes | No |
| VPC Requirement | Yes | Yes, but requires extra interface and Gateway Load Balancer endpoints |
Example:
If you need to connect from external applications, Serverless v2 allows a public IP, but v1 requires a VPN or AWS Direct Connect.
4. Feature Support
| Feature | Aurora Serverless v2 | Aurora Serverless v1 |
|---|---|---|
| Cluster Topology | Supports mix of Serverless & Provisioned instances | Fixed Serverless-only cluster |
| Configurable Parameters | Nearly all parameters like provisioned clusters | Limited parameter customization |
| Encryption for Cluster Volume | Optional | Mandatory |
| Cross-Region Snapshots | Yes | Requires encryption with a custom AWS KMS key |
| IAM Role Association | Yes | No |
| AWS Secrets Manager Integration | Yes | No |
| Performance Insights | Yes | No |
| CloudWatch Logs | Selective logging | Uploads all logs automatically |
| RDS Proxy Support | Yes | No |
Example:
If your application requires fine-tuned database parameters (e.g., adjusting innodb_buffer_pool_size for MySQL), Serverless v2 allows more control, whereas v1 limits what can be changed.
5. Use Cases & Adaptation
| Use Case | Aurora Serverless v1 Approach | Aurora Serverless v2 Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Lightly loaded cluster, cost efficiency | Minimum 1 ACU, single AZ | Minimum 0.5 ACUs, Multi-AZ for better availability |
| Dev/Test environments | Cluster pauses after timeout | Can pause manually or set 0 ACUs for auto-pause |
| Heavy workload | Scales by doubling capacity | Scales in 0.5-ACU increments for better control |
| Higher total capacity needs | Single writer instance | Multiple reader instances distribute load |
| Write-intensive workload | Limited writer capacity | Mix of provisioned writer & Serverless v2 readers |
Example:
If you have a low-traffic dev/test database, Serverless v2 allows setting 0 ACUs (scaling to zero), whereas v1 only pauses after inactivity.
🎯 Summary: Why Choose Aurora Serverless v2?
- More granular scaling → Adjust in 0.5 ACU increments instead of doubling capacity
- Multi-AZ & global database support → Better availability & disaster recovery
- Faster failover & cache preservation → Less downtime, better performance
- More networking flexibility → Allows public IP access
- More control over configurations → Supports parameter tuning, IAM roles, and performance insights
Aurora Serverless v2 is a better choice for production workloads that need scalability, high availability, and flexibility, while v1 is best for simpler, cost-sensitive use cases.
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