3a. Cost Management: Azure - EY-Data-Science-Program/2021-Better-Working-World-Data-Challenge GitHub Wiki
When using Azure, you may have credits or be using a credit card, either way you're going to want to manage your costs!
There are two main factors impacting cost:
- The size of the VM, i.e. number of CPUs/cores and amount of RAM
- How long the VM is turned on for
Note that there is no requirement to use Azure, it is possible to use the Open Data Cube tools on your local machine.
When provisioning your Cube your are given a choice of what size VM to use:
| Option | VM Type | vCPUs | RAM | GPU | $/hr | $/day | $/mon | $/8h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU-16GB | Standard_D4s_v3 | 4 | 16 | No | 0.32952 | 7.91 | 240.55 | 2.63616 |
| GPU-56GB | Standard_NC6_Promo | 6 | 56 | Yes | 0.937759 | 22.51 | 684.56 | 7.502072 |
Prices are in AUD. Listing is subject to change. For more information on prices visit the Azure Calculator.
If you only have $100 of credit, you'll want to use your VM time responsibly, which means:
:warning: Shut down the VM to save credits when not in use! :warning:
If you exhaust your credits you will receive the following message via email.
Shut Down Your VM
You should shut down your VM when you're not using it to save credits. You will still pay a small amount for the disk space, however the bulk of the cost associated with running the VM will be saved.
To shut down your VM:
- Log in to your Azure Portal
- Navigate to your Cube VM
- Click the Stop button at the top on the Overview page.
Auto shutdown
We strongly recommend you implement auto shutdown as soon as you have finished your deployment. This allows you to set a time that the VM will switch off each day in case you forget to do so after you've finished work. Just remember to disable it temporarily if you're running a big piece of analysis overnight.
Delete Your Deployment
Once the challenge is over and you have submitted your entry, you may want to delete your deployment. Especially if you are using a credit card and have opted for pay-as-you-go (you will still be charged for the disk space even if the VM is switched off).