[tailscaler2026]

Anyone considering leaving AWS and thinking they'll transfer all their data for free [1], I've got news for you: It's a lie.

AWS takes as long as possible (for me it was a month) to respond to the initial DTO request, then require you to submit a multi-page form answering a barrage of questions about why you're leaving, where you're going to, what services you used, and estimated data egress. A week or so later, if they approve the request, you're not allowed to begin DTO until 60 days after the approval.

By the time you can egress your data for "free", you've been stuck on AWS for 3-4 months since you first made the decision to leave.

[1] https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/free-data-transfer-out-to-i...

[cryo32]

If you have a lot of data it's cheaper to lease a Direct Connect line into an AWS zone and suck it out through that.

[layoric]

I might be reading the pricing wrong but you have to pay per hour for the port plus per GB transfer? And looks like the cheapest is $0.02 per GB? Is that really the 'cheap' option? That looks fine for a TB or two, but still crazy when getting closer to PBs.

[stingraycharles]

Yes that’s the cheap option.

But to be fair, I deal with several customers that are in the double digit petabyte scale. When you’re operating at that scale, and have 7-figure AWS bills on a monthly basis, AWS is suddenly a lot more available to you and much more willing to accommodate pretty much anything.

[layoric]

I've heard stories of bills like that and is wild to me.. I built a SaaS that had just over a PB in data and our monthly was low 5 digit and largest part was S3, and co-location was already on the table. I can't imagine getting to 6-7 digit a month.. I understand how it happens with rapid growth, but even 6 months of that I would be scrambling for other hosting options.

[cryo32]

You do but you can actually negotiate discounts with AWS when you get to Direct Connect level. It's only cheaper than the other options. It's never acceptable.

This is why we're slowly and quietly moving back to a couple of cages in a DC. Well we were until the AI companies bought all the fuck RAM and SSDs.

[otterley]

> A week or so later, if they approve the request, you're not allowed to begin DTO until 60 days after the approval.

Do you have proof of this? That is not disclosed in their policy.

[tailscaler2026]

I know it's not disclosed. That's why I left this as a warning to others. I can show screenshots of the conversations with AWS support?

[otterley]

I’d love to see them if you’ve got them. So would some lawyers, I think.