Before you activate the MaxCompute service, you need to understand its specification types. This helps you choose a suitable product specification after you plan the storage and compute resources that your project requires. This topic describes the specification types that MaxCompute offers, their differences, and how to choose the right one.
Specification types and differences
MaxCompute offers multiple specification types. Each type includes storage resources, compute resources, and resources for data uploads and downloads, which affects billing. The following table describes the key differences between the specification types.
Specification type | Compute resource | Storage resource | Resources for data uploads and downloads | Billing rule | Scenarios |
reserved compute resources (Dedicated resources). | Shared resource pool. On-demand storage with no usage limits. | Shared resource pool. Resources are preempted on demand. Usage cannot be specified, and there are no usage limits. | Projects that are published and run stably. | ||
Shared resource pool. Compute jobs preempt resources on demand. Usage cannot be specified. | Shared resource pool. On-demand storage with no usage limits. | Projects with unstable job volumes that require flexible storage space. | |||
The idle-time compute resource pool is shared with the pay-as-you-go Standard Edition compute resources and is isolated from subscription compute resources. Usage cannot be specified. | Not applicable | Not applicable | Suitable for jobs where low cost is more important than completion time. Examples include analyzing large amounts of low-value data, such as behavioral logs and system logs. | ||
Reserved compute resources. Dedicated resource pool. You must have subscription reserved compute resources before you can scale out on demand. | Not applicable | Not applicable | When using subscription reserved resources, scale out compute resources during daily peak business hours and scale in during off-peak hours. This reduces idle resources and improves resource utilization. |
The subscription package editions (Storage-intensive 160, Storage-intensive 320, and Storage-intensive 600 packages), subscription non-reserved compute resources, and pay-as-you-go Developer Edition are no longer available for new purchases. Their service was discontinued at 00:00:00, Tuesday, October 31, 2023 (UTC+8).
How to choose a specification
To choose a suitable product specification, you must first understand the differences and scenarios for each MaxCompute specification. Then, work with experienced technical staff to plan the storage and compute resources that your project requires based on your business needs.