How to downgrade a AWS EC2?

Question

I have an Amazon Web Service EC2 virtual server large type. Now I want to downgrade it to small type. I want to keep the hard disk information but just download the configure of the server. The main reason is to save a few bucks. How can I do this?

I think I should:

• stop the current instance.
• detach the volume from the current instance.
• terminate the instance.
• recreate a new small-type instance from scratch.
• attach the volume to the small-type instance.

I am not sure whether this is the correct way to do the downgrade or they have some formal way to do it. I tried to look up from the doc but couldn't find anything useful. I think someone here must be able to help me

Answer 1

You can do it like this:

1. Snapshot your current instance's volume.
2. Create a smaller instance type (As you like)
3. Use the created snapshot to create an instance volume
4. Attach those volumes to your new instance
5. Change the Elastic IP to your new instance