Evaluating Cost of Cloud Execution in a Data Repository

In this paper, we utilize a set of controlled experiments to benchmark the cost associated with the cloud execution of typical repository functions such as ingestion, fixity checking, and heavy data processing. We focus on the repository service pattern where content is explicitly stored away from where it is processed. We measured the processing speed and unit cost of each scenario using a large sensor dataset and Amazon Web Services (AWS). The initial results reveal three distinct cost patterns: 1) spend more to buy up to proportionally faster services; 2) more money does not necessarily buy better performance; and 3) spend less, but faster. Further investigations into these performance and cost patterns will help repositories to form a more effective operation strategy.