At Gymmyc, our commitment to delivering high-performance, cost-effective solutions drives us to continually explore innovative technologies. Recently, we collaborated with a location services company to optimize their geocoding infrastructure. By transitioning to Rackspace Spot, we achieved an impressive 93% reduction in compute costs.

Understanding Rackspace Spot

Rackspace Spot offers an open market for cloud infrastructure, allowing users to bid on unused server capacity. This approach provides substantial cost savings compared to traditional on-demand pricing models. Key features include:

  • Open Market Bidding: Users set their maximum bid for preferred server classes, with allocations made through an auction process.

  • Fully Managed Kubernetes: Allocated servers are delivered within a fully managed Kubernetes environment, simplifying deployment and management.

  • High-Performance GPU Options: Access to NVIDIA GPUs for compute-intensive tasks, beneficial for applications requiring significant processing power.

Comparing Rackspace Spot to Amazon EKS

Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) is a managed Kubernetes service that facilitates the deployment of containerized applications on AWS. While EKS supports integration with EC2 Spot Instances—allowing users to utilize spare AWS capacity at reduced prices—there are notable differences:

  • Pricing Model: AWS Spot Instances offer up to 90% savings over On-Demand prices but come with the risk of sudden termination if capacity is reclaimed. Rackspace Spot’s auction-based model provides more predictable pricing and allocation.

  • Managed Services: Both platforms offer managed Kubernetes environments, but Rackspace Spot includes additional features like automated pre-emption handling and Terraform integration for infrastructure as code.

Implementation and Results

Our client faced escalating costs with their existing geocoding infrastructure. By migrating to Rackspace Spot, we leveraged the platform’s cost-effective compute resources and managed Kubernetes environment. This transition led to:

  • 93% Reduction in Compute Costs: The auction-based pricing significantly lowered expenses compared to the previous setup.

  • Enhanced Scalability: The flexible nature of Rackspace Spot allowed for seamless scaling to meet varying demand.

  • Operational Efficiency: The managed Kubernetes service simplified deployment and maintenance, freeing resources for other critical tasks.

This case exemplifies Gymmyc’s dedication to optimizing performance and cost-efficiency for our clients. By embracing innovative solutions like Rackspace Spot, we deliver substantial value and maintain our commitment to excellence.

For more information on how Gymmyc can assist in optimizing your infrastructure, please contact us.