Help Center> Elastic Cloud Server> Billing> Billing Modes> Spot Pricing (for Spot Block Instances)

Updated on 2024-05-11 GMT+08:00

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Spot Pricing (for Spot Block Instances)

Spot instances with a predefined duration are called spot block instances. When purchasing a spot block instance, you need to set a predefined duration and the number of durations. Prices vary depending on the predefined duration.

You can buy spot block instances at an ultra-low price but they may be reclaimed when resources are insufficient.

You can buy a spot block instance at an ultra-low price, but there is a trade-off for that reduced cost. If inventory resources are insufficient, the spot block instance will be reclaimed. Compared with pay-per-use and yearly/monthly ECSs, spot block instances offer the same performance at a lower price.

Application Scenarios

Spot block instances are a good option if you want to enjoy the same performance at a lower price.

Applicable scenarios
Image rendering, stateless web services, DNA sequencing, offline analysis, function computing, batch computing, sample analysis, CI/CD, and test.

When the predefined duration is reached or the inventory resources are insufficient, the spot block instances will be reclaimed. Therefore, back up data when using such ECSs.
Inapplicable scenarios
The applications need to run for a long time or deliver a high level of stability.

Billed Items

A spot block instance consists of compute resources (vCPUs and memory), EVS disks, an image, and an EIP. You are billed for the following items:

**Table 1** Billed items for spot block instances
Billed Item	Description
Spot block ECS	The spot block ECS is billed by the predefined duration and the number of durations.
Images	If an image, including a Marketplace image, is created along with a spot block instance, this image is billed on a pay-per-use basis. NOTE: Public images: Only KylinOS and UnionTechOS images are billed. Private images: Private images for system disks and data disks can be used for free. For full-ECS images, you will be billed for using the server backup vault of CBR. Shared images: Shared images for system disks and data disks can be used for free. For full-ECS image shared by others, you will be billed for using the server backup vault of CBR. Marketplace images: See the price provided by the image provider.
EVS disks	If an EVS disk (a system disk or a data disk) is created with a spot block instance, this EVS disk is billed on a pay-per-use basis.
EIP bandwidth	If an EIP is purchased along with a spot block instance and the EIP is billed by bandwidth, you are billed for the bandwidth on a pay-per-use basis.
EIP traffic	If an EIP is purchased with a spot block instance and the EIP is billed by traffic, you are billed for the actual traffic used.

Suppose you plan to purchase a Linux spot block instance with a predefined duration of 6 hours, a data disk, and an EIP billed by bandwidth. the prices will be displayed as follows:

Figure 1 Example prices (for a spot block instance)

The price includes:

The selected spot block instance
The EVS disks (system disks and data disks)
The EIP bandwidth

Billing Principles

When purchasing a spot block instance, you need to select a predefined duration (1 to 6 hours). This predefined duration determines the total price of the spot block instance. It is also the minimum time for a spot block instance.

When the predefined duration is reached or the inventory resources are insufficient, the spot block instance enters the Reclaiming state and will then be released. You can release a spot block instance at any time. After it is released, you are billed for the actual usage duration.

Huawei Cloud will try every effort to ensure the proper running of your spot block instance. However, in extreme cases, it may be released within seconds. Therefore, back up data when using a spot block instance.

If a spot block instance is terminated by the cloud platform, you will not be billed for the resource usage within the predefined duration. If you release it within the predefined duration, you will be billed for the actual usage duration.

Generally, the instance that has been used for a short period of time is preferentially reclaimed to minimize service loss. However, you are advised to optimize the application design to ensure that services can work properly even if the instance is reclaimed. You can release a spot block instance to test whether the application can work properly after the instance is reclaimed.

Figure 2 Lifecycle of a spot block instance

Billed Usage Period

The usage of a spot block instance is calculated by the second and billed every hour. The billing starts when the spot block instance is launched and ends when the instance is deleted. An instance is deleted after it is released by you, or automatically released when the predefined duration is reached.

It takes a certain time to launch a spot block instance. The billing starts from the Launched time on the ECS Summary page.

For example, if you purchased a spot block instance at 8:45:30 and deleted it at 8:55:30, you are billed for the 600 seconds from 8:45:30 to 8:55:30.

Billing Example 1: The instance expires normally.

Suppose you purchased a spot block instance (c6.large.4 with a CentOS 7.9 64-bit image, a bandwidth of 6 Mbit/s, and a predefined duration of 2 hours) on April 18, 2023, 8:30:00. The instance was terminated upon expiration at 10:30:00 on the same day.

You are billed for the usage of 7,200 seconds.

**Table 2** Billed usage periods for the spot block instance
Billed Hour	Billed Usage Period	Billed Duration	Unit Price of Instance
8:00:00 – 9:00:00	8:30:00 – 9:00:00	1,800 seconds	$0.029 USD/hour The unit price varies according to the predefined duration. Check the unit price on the console.
9:00:00 – 10:00:00	9:00:00 – 10:00:00	3,600 seconds
10:00:00 – 11:00:00	10:00:00 – 10:30:00	1,800 seconds

You are billed for all usage periods. ECS resources are billed individually as described in Table 3. The price displayed in the pricing details is per hour, so you need to divide it by 3,600 to obtain the price for each second and then multiply the per-second price by the total number of seconds.

**Table 3** Formulas for billing a spot block instance
Resource	Formula	Unit Price
ECS (compute resources including vCPUs and memory)	Unit price of the ECS flavor x Required duration	See Specifications Price in ECS Pricing Details.
Images	Unit price of the image x Required duration	See the price displayed on the purchase page or the Marketplace.
EVS disks (system disks and data disks)	Unit price of an EVS disk x Required duration	See EVS Pricing Details or Disk Price in ECS Pricing Details.
EIP bandwidth	Tiered pricing based on fixed bandwidth. 0 Mbit/s to 5 Mbit/s (included): billed at a fixed unit price per Mbit/s Greater than 5 Mbit/s: billed at a different price per Mbit/s	See EIP Pricing Details or Bandwidth Price in ECS Pricing Details.

Figure 3 shows how the total price is calculated.

The prices in the figure are examples only. The actual prices are those displayed on ECS Pricing Details.

Figure 3 (Example 1) Total price for a spot block instance

Billing Example 2: The User Releases a Spot Block Instance in Advance.

Suppose you purchased a spot block instance (c6.large.4 with a CentOS 7.9 64-bit image, a bandwidth of 6 Mbit/s, and a predefined duration of 2 hours) on April 18, 2023, 8:30:00. One hour and forty-five minutes later, you released the instance and the instance was terminated.

You are billed for the usage of 6,300 seconds.

**Table 4** Billed usage periods for the spot block instance
Billed Hour	Billed Usage Period	Billed Duration	Unit Price of Instance
8:00:00 – 9:00:00	8:30:00 – 9:00:00	1,800 seconds	$0.029 USD/hour The unit price varies according to the predefined duration. Check the unit price on the console.
9:00:00 – 10:00:00	9:00:00 – 10:00:00	3,600 seconds
10:00:00 – 11:00:00	10:00:00 – 10:15:00	900 seconds

You are billed for all usage periods. ECS resources are billed individually as described in Table 5. The price displayed in the pricing details is per hour, so you need to divide it by 3,600 to obtain the price for each second and then multiply the per-second price by the total number of seconds.

**Table 5** Formulas for billing a spot block instance
Resource	Formula	Unit Price
ECS (compute resources including vCPUs and memory)	Unit price of the ECS flavor x Required duration	See Specifications Price in ECS Pricing Details.
Images	Unit price of the image x Required duration	See the price displayed on the purchase page or the Marketplace.
EVS disks (system disks and data disks)	Unit price of an EVS disk x Required duration	See EVS Pricing Details or Disk Price in ECS Pricing Details.
EIP bandwidth	Tiered pricing based on fixed bandwidth. 0 Mbit/s to 5 Mbit/s (included): billed at a fixed unit price per Mbit/s Greater than 5 Mbit/s: billed at a different price per Mbit/s	See EIP Pricing Details or Bandwidth Price in ECS Pricing Details.

Figure 4 shows how the total price is calculated.

The prices in the figure are examples only. The actual prices are those displayed on ECS Pricing Details.

Figure 4 (Example 2) Total price for a spot block instance

Billing Example 3: The System Releases the Spot Block Instance in Advance.

Suppose you purchased a spot block instance (c6.large.4 with a CentOS 7.9 64-bit image, a bandwidth of 6 Mbit/s, and a predefined duration of 6 hours) on April 18, 2023, 8:30:00. The instance was released by the system due to insufficient resources and was terminated at 12:30:00 on the same day.

You are billed for the usage of 14,400 seconds.

**Table 6** Billed usage periods for the spot block instance
Billed Hour	Billed Usage Period	Billed Duration	Unit Price of Instance
8:00:00 – 9:00:00	8:30:00 – 9:00:00	1,800 seconds	$0 USD/hour The instance is released by the system before the predefined duration is reached. Therefore, the instance is free of charge.
9:00:00 – 10:00:00	9:00:00 – 10:00:00	3,600 seconds
10:00:00 – 11:00:00	10:00:00 – 11:00:00	3,600 seconds
11:00:00 – 12:00:00	11:00:00 – 12:00:00	3,600 seconds
12:00:00 – 13:00:00	12:00:00 – 12:30:00	1,800 seconds

You are billed for all usage periods. ECS resources are billed individually as described in Table 7. The price displayed in the pricing details is per hour, so you need to divide it by 3,600 to obtain the price for each second and then multiply the per-second price by the total number of seconds.

**Table 7** Formulas for billing a spot block instance
Resource	Formula	Unit Price
ECS (compute resources including vCPUs and memory)	Unit price of the ECS flavor x Required duration	See Specifications Price in ECS Pricing Details.
Images	Unit price of the image x Required duration	See the price displayed on the purchase page or the Marketplace.
EVS disks (system disks and data disks)	Unit price of an EVS disk x Required duration	See EVS Pricing Details or Disk Price in ECS Pricing Details.
EIP bandwidth	Tiered pricing based on fixed bandwidth. 0 Mbit/s to 5 Mbit/s (included): billed at a fixed unit price per Mbit/s Greater than 5 Mbit/s: billed at a different price per Mbit/s	See EIP Pricing Details or Bandwidth Price in ECS Pricing Details.

Figure 5 shows how the total price is calculated.

The prices in the figure are examples only. The actual prices are those displayed on ECS Pricing Details.

Figure 5 (Example 3) Total price for a spot block instance

Price Change After Specification Change

Spot block instance specifications cannot be changed.

Impact of Arrears

Figure 6 shows the statuses a spot block instance can have throughout its lifecycle. After a spot block instance is purchased, it enters the validity period and runs normally during this period. If your account goes into arrears, the instance enters a grace period and then a retention period.

Figure 6 Lifecycle of a spot block instance

Arrears Reminder

The system will bill you for a spot block instance after each billing cycle ends. If your account goes into arrears, we will notify you by email, SMS, or in-app message.

Impact of Arrears

If your account is insufficient to pay your amount due:
Your account will go into arrears, and the spot block instance will enter the grace period. The spot block instance resources are not stopped immediately. You are still responsible for expenditures generated during the grace period. You can view the expenditures on the Billing Center > Overview page and pay any past due balance as needed.
If you do not bring your account balance current before the grace period expires:
The spot block instance status turns to Frozen and it enters a retention period. You cannot perform any operations on the ECS.
If you do not bring your account balance current before the retention period ends:
The compute resources (vCPUs and memory), EVS disks, and EIPs will be released and the data cannot be restored.

For details about the grace period and retention period, see What Is a Grace Period of Huawei Cloud? How Long Is It? and What Is a Retention Period of Huawei Cloud? How Long Is It?
For details about topping up your account, see Topping Up an Account.

Billing for a Stopped Spot Block Instance

A spot block instance is billed even after it is stopped.

Conditions for Reclaiming

A spot block instance can be released by the user or reclaimed by the system.

The user proactively releases the instance.
After finishing using a spot block instance, you can release it to save money.
1. Log in to the management console.
2. Choose Compute > Elastic Cloud Server.
3. Select the spot block instance to be deleted.
4. Click Delete in the upper part of the ECS list or click Delete in the Operation column.
  The system disk will be released together with the spot block instance. However, you need to manually delete the data disk, bandwidth, and EIP. You can also choose to delete the EIP and data disk together with the spot block instance. If they are not manually released, they will continue to be billed.
The system reclaims the instance.
Back up data in a timely manner, because the system will reclaim the instance when the predefined duration is reached or system resources are insufficient. The instance and system disk are deleted when the instance is reclaimed. However, the data disk, network bandwidth, EIP, SFS Turbo file system, and other services will not be deleted. You need to delete them if required.
- In extreme cases, for example, when system resources are insufficient, Huawei Cloud will reclaim spot block instances (with a predefined duration of 1–6 hours) and the usage of such instances will not be billed. For details, see Billing Example 3: The System Releases the Spot Block Instance in Advance..
- After CDRs are generated for a spot block instance, you will be billed for the usage. If your account is insufficient to pay the amount due, your resources will be frozen. You can view the amount due in Billing Center. To prevent resources from being stopped or released, top up your account in a timely manner. If your account goes into arrears, pay immediately.