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The ITD Lab at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, which operates under the Department of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis, has transitioned its ETeams application to Amazon Aurora using Babelfish, significantly decreasing its database expenses. This innovative application links small businesses with student-led research teams, allowing them to tackle business challenges through technology and training interventions.
The ETeams initiative utilizes a relational database to identify and analyze the technological issues faced by microenterprises. After diagnosing these challenges, the researchers can explore and recommend solutions based on database insights. The system supports over 200 records of technology training interventions, which helps in analyzing their outcomes.
Previously, the ETeams application was migrated to Amazon Web Services (AWS) to alleviate the burden of managing the underlying infrastructure. With a small team, the focus shifted away from routine maintenance towards enhancing the application’s functionality. However, the ITD Lab Director, Alex Morgan, sought to lower operational costs. This blog discusses how they discovered a cost-effective alternative to their SQL Server database while maintaining performance.
Challenges of Field Data Collection
Microenterprises often face hurdles when collecting and interpreting data during technology and training interventions. These challenges include:
- Gathering data in diverse environments
- Storing new data records for each microenterprise
- Correlating this fresh data with pre-existing information
- Providing researchers with a responsive database to propose solutions and train business owners
The system must be agile enough to handle simultaneous data collection and solution development activities. Beyond just data entry, it allows researchers to diagnose issues, select appropriate interventions, and track results. More information can be found in the Association for Information Systems (AIS) eLibrary and the ITD Lab at UNO’s Micro Enterprises and Small Businesses program.
Initially, the ETeams application utilized Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS) for SQL Server Standard Edition. However, the licensing for SQL Server proved to be a significant cost driver. Upon exploring cost-reduction strategies, their AWS solutions architect suggested the transition to Amazon Aurora Serverless PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition with Babelfish integration. This switch has resulted in an impressive 87% reduction in database costs for the ITD Lab.
The ITD Lab initially selected a db.m5.large instance for RDS for SQL Server, which cost approximately $0.977 per hour, culminating in about $703.44 monthly. With Aurora Serverless, the system automatically adjusts its capacity based on demand. As ETeams usage increased, resources scaled up to meet needs and then scaled down as usage decreased. The average daily consumption of the ETeams database translates to about $89.21 monthly, showcasing a staggering 87.3% reduction in expenses.
Overview of the Solution
Babelfish integration allows an Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible database cluster to accept connections from SQL Server clients. This means applications initially developed for SQL Server can seamlessly interact with Aurora PostgreSQL with minimal code adjustments. Interested readers can check out this excellent resource on onboarding new hires during COVID-19 for further insights on effective transitions.
To implement the solution, an AWS account is necessary, along with some experience with RDS for SQL Server and Aurora PostgreSQL. The migration process begins with creating a Babelfish for Aurora PostgreSQL DB cluster. Once the cluster is set up, the Babelfish Compass tool can be utilized to evaluate SQL Server compatibility.
The assessment identifies any unsupported features that may require addressing. For instance, the ETeams database assessment revealed only one high-complexity unsupported feature, which involves adding a member to the db_owner role — a task that is handled differently in PostgreSQL.
Prioritizing these issues based on complexity ensures an efficient migration process. As noted, there were only a few unsupported commands that required review, making the migration straightforward and manageable.
Conclusion
The transition to Amazon Aurora with Babelfish has enabled the ITD Lab at UNO to substantially reduce database costs while enhancing their operational efficiency. For those interested in building a personal brand, this blog post on effective sites offers valuable tips. Moreover, organizations can benefit from resources on workplace safety and compliance as noted by SHRM.