The Problem
You have video archives that are rarely accessed but must be retrievable within 5 minutes when needed. You want the cheapest possible storage, but standard Glacier retrieval (3-5 hours) is too slow for your use case.
The Solution
Store the archives in S3 Glacier Flexible Retrieval and use expedited retrievals when you need fast access. Expedited retrievals typically return data in 1-5 minutes.
How It Works
S3 Glacier Flexible Retrieval (formerly just “S3 Glacier”) offers three retrieval speeds:
| Retrieval Type | Time | Cost per GB |
|---|---|---|
| Expedited | 1-5 minutes | $0.03 |
| Standard | 3-5 hours | $0.01 |
| Bulk | 5-12 hours | $0.0025 |
The storage cost is $0.0036/GB/month — roughly 6x cheaper than S3 Standard.
Initiating an Expedited Retrieval
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aws s3api restore-object \
--bucket my-archive-bucket \
--key "video-archives/footage-2019.mp4" \
--restore-request '{
"Days": 7,
"GlacierJobParameters": {
"Tier": "Expedited"
}
}'
The Days parameter specifies how long the restored copy remains accessible in S3 before it is deleted.
Provisioned Capacity for Guaranteed Expedited Access
During periods of high demand, expedited retrievals can be throttled. If your business requires guaranteed access, purchase provisioned capacity:
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aws glacier purchase-provisioned-capacity --account-id -
Each provisioned capacity unit costs $100/month and guarantees up to 150 MB/s of retrieval throughput and 3 expedited retrievals every 5 minutes.
Why Not the Alternatives?
S3 Glacier with standard retrievals — Standard retrieval takes 3-5 hours. If your requirement is 5 minutes maximum, this does not meet the SLA.
S3 Standard-IA — Provides instant retrieval but storage cost is $0.0125/GB/month compared to Glacier’s $0.0036/GB/month. For rarely accessed archives, that is 3.5x more expensive for storage.
S3 One Zone-IA — Also provides instant retrieval but only stores data in a single AZ. Not suitable for valuable archives that could be irreplaceable.
Key Takeaways
- S3 Glacier Flexible Retrieval offers three retrieval speeds: expedited (1-5 min), standard (3-5 hr), bulk (5-12 hr)
- Expedited retrievals cost more per GB but meet tight SLA requirements
- Use provisioned capacity ($100/month) to guarantee expedited retrieval availability
- Glacier storage is ~6x cheaper than S3 Standard and ~3.5x cheaper than S3 Standard-IA
- Restored objects are temporary copies — specify how many days you need them available
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