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The IT for Development (ITD) Lab at the University of Nebraska at Omaha has successfully transitioned its application, ETeams, from a SQL Server database to Amazon Aurora with Babelfish, significantly lowering database costs. ETeams connects small businesses and microenterprises with student-led research teams, allowing them to address business challenges through technology and training interventions.
The application relies on a relational database to identify issues faced by small businesses in implementing technology. Once problems are diagnosed, alternative solutions are proposed through the database, allowing business owners to choose a path forward. The ITD Lab previously migrated this application to Amazon Web Services (AWS) to avoid managing the infrastructure and to enable staff to focus on enhancing the ETeams application rather than dealing with routine maintenance tasks. However, the Director of the ITD Lab, Alex Johnson, sought to further reduce operational costs.
Challenges in Field Data Collection
Microenterprises often face hurdles in data collection during technology and training interventions. Researchers must gather data in the field, create new records, and correlate this information with existing data. The system must remain responsive, supporting researchers as they work with business owners to offer tailored solutions. The entire process is documented on the Association for Information Systems (AIS) eLibrary website, and additional references can be found within the ITD Lab at UNO’s Micro Enterprises and Small Businesses program.
Initially, the ETeams application utilized Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) for SQL Server Standard Edition, configured as a single database instance with pay-as-you-go pricing. However, the cost of the SQL Server license became a primary concern. Upon reviewing options to cut expenses, the AWS solutions architect recommended transitioning to Amazon Aurora Serverless PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition with Babelfish integration. This switch has led to an impressive reduction in database costs for the ITD Lab at UNO, exceeding 87 percent.
The ITD Lab initially employed a db.m5.large instance for RDS for SQL Server Standard Edition, costing approximately $0.977 per hour—totaling $703.44 for a month. In contrast, with Aurora Serverless, the resources automatically scale with demand. The average consumption of Aurora capacity units (ACUs) for the ETeams database is 24.78 per day, leading to an average monthly cost of $89.21, a remarkable 87.3 percent reduction.
Solution Overview
Babelfish integration allows an Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible database cluster to accept connections from SQL Server clients, enabling minimal code changes during migration. The ETeams application previously connected directly to RDS for SQL Server but now utilizes the Babelfish endpoint while still connecting through port 1433.
To implement this solution, an AWS account is necessary, along with experience in RDS for SQL Server and Aurora PostgreSQL. The first step involves creating a Babelfish for Aurora PostgreSQL DB cluster, followed by using the Babelfish Compass tool for a feasibility assessment. This tool generates a compatibility report that helps identify any unsupported features in the original SQL Server database.
The assessment for the ETeams database revealed only one unsupported feature of high complexity. The Babelfish Compass tool provides a summary of the analysis, highlighting areas needing attention. In this case, resolving the high-complexity feature involved adapting how PostgreSQL handles user roles.
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The ITD Lab at UNO, located at 6401 E HOWDY WELLS AVE LAS VEGAS NV 89115, continues to innovate and enhance the ETeams application, ensuring it meets the needs of microenterprises effectively.
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