AWS Outposts rack
On-site AWS rack
A 42U rack that AWS delivers, installs and maintains in your data center, running EC2, EBS, ECS, EKS, RDS, S3 on Outposts… as an extension of the Region.
- Cost$$$ High
- Difficulty●●●●●
- Costs money when idle?Yes
- Managed by AWS
- In examsSAA
Think of it asLike placing an entire genuine AWS server cabinet in your company's server room.
When to use it
✓ Use it when
You need large on-site compute and storage capacity with the full AWS experience.
✗ Avoid it when
Small sites (stores, branches) without room for a rack → Outposts servers.
Common uses
- Running core systems needing low latency to mainframe/on-prem
- On-site processing of factory and healthcare data
- Gradually migrating applications to AWS
What does it cost?
- Pricing model: Based on rack configuration with a multi-year commitment; services running on it are charged extra per service.
⚠️ Cost traps
You must provide power, cooling and networking that meet AWS requirements.
Related services
SAA-C03 study guide
Outposts rack is covered in these study modules: