WAR: Unused ELBv2 Load Balancers

The AWS Well-Architected Framework emphasizes managing your cloud resources efficiently to control costs and optimize performance. Identifying and addressing unused Elastic Load Balancing v2 (ELBv2) load balancers directly aligns with the Cost Optimization Pillar (CO), specifically the principle of CO.2: Rightsizing. This principle focuses on using resources efficiently to avoid unnecessary spending for underutilized resources.

We will explore what constitutes an unused ELBv2 load balancer, the implications of keeping them around, and strategies for optimizing your load balancing resource usage.

What are Unused ELBv2 Load Balancers?

ELBv2 load balancers distribute incoming traffic across multiple EC2 instances or containers in your application. An ELBv2 load balancer is considered unused if it meets one of the following criteria:

• No Registered Targets: The load balancer doesn't have any healthy target instances or containers registered with it. This means there's no traffic to distribute, and the ELBv2 is essentially idle.
• No Incoming Traffic: Even if the ELBv2 has registered targets, it experiences minimal or no incoming traffic over an extended period. This suggests the load balancer might be serving a purpose that is no longer relevant.

Why are Unused ELBv2 Load Balancers a Concern?

Even when unused, ELBv2 load balancers incur charges based on their running hours. These ongoing costs can add up if you have a large number of unused ELBvs in your account. Additionally, unused ELBvs clutter your environment and make it difficult to manage and identify actively used load balancers.

Identifying Unused ELBv2 Load Balancers:

Here are some methods to identify unused ELBv2 load balancers in your AWS environment:

• AWS Management Console: Use the Elastic Load Balancing v2 section of the console to list all your load balancers. Look for ELBvs with no registered targets or minimal incoming traffic metrics.
• AWS CLI: Utilize the AWS CLI with commands like aws elbv2 describe-load-balancers to filter and identify ELBvs based on target registrations or traffic patterns.
• Cloud Cost Management Tools: Several third-party cloud cost management tools can integrate with AWS and provide detailed reports on unused ELBvs and associated costs.

Strategies for Dealing with Unused ELBv2 Load Balancers:

Once you've identified unused ELBv2 load balancers, here are some options to optimize your costs:

• Delete Unused ELBvs: For ELBvs no longer required, the most cost-effective solution is to delete them entirely. This removes the load balancer from your account and eliminates all associated charges.
• Deregister Idle Targets (if applicable): If an ELBv2 has registered targets but no traffic, consider deregistering any idle targets that are not part of your active application infrastructure.

Automating Unused ELBv2 Load Balancer Management:

• AWS Config Rules: You can configure AWS Config to automatically identify unused ELBvs based on target registrations or traffic metrics and trigger remediation actions like sending notifications or initiating the deletion process.
• CloudWatch Events and Lambda Functions: Set up CloudWatch Events to trigger Lambda functions when ELBvs fall below a certain traffic threshold for a set period. These Lambda functions can then automate actions like sending notifications or deleting unused ELBvs.

Benefits of Addressing Unused ELBv2 Load Balancers:

By proactively identifying and addressing unused ELBv2 load balancers, you can achieve the following benefits:

• Reduced Costs: Eliminate unnecessary charges associated with inactive load balancers.
• Improved Resource Management: Maintain a clean and organized set of ELBvs, simplifying management and resource allocation.
• Optimized Cloud Environment: Ensure your load balancing infrastructure is efficient and aligns with your application's actual traffic patterns.

Alignment with the Well-Architected Framework:

Following these strategies aligns with the Well-Architected Framework's Cost Optimization principle. By optimizing your Elastic Load Balancing v2 usage, you can ensure you're only paying for the traffic distribution capabilities you actively use and maintain a cost-effective and efficient cloud infrastructure.