Amazon RDS batch insert slower than local database? - amazon-web-services

Question

I wrote a node program that batch insert to database and do a console log for every completed insert.
function insert(){
var sql = "insert into todo (user, content) values (xx, xx);" +
"insert into todo (user, content) values (xx, xx);" +
"insert into todo (user, content) values (xx, xx);" +
(.... 4000 lines of insert)
db.insert(sql,function success(){
console.log('done');
});
}
for(i=0;i<10000;i++){
insert();
}
I have 2 setup of this:
1) Local machine to local DB.
2) Amazon EC2 Micro Instance to Amazon RDS Micro Instance from same region
*Both my.cnf leave to default with only max_allowed_packet=500m set.
The result is by the time RDS complete one insert, my local machine has completed 24 insert. I tried to upgrade my RDS to small instance, it make no different.
My question is why is amazon rds slower in this case. Any solution for this?

Answer 1

I think the problem might be related to the micro instance performance. After some testing, we moved completely away from micro instances and switched to small instances. On the other hand, I have not found any problems regarding the RDS speed, even with small instances.
Have a look at how the EC2 micro instances work and where they should be used:
http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts_micro_instances.html
From how I understand your test case, your setup mostly looks like the second figure, and this should not be suitable for micro instances. Try using a small instance and compare the results there. Even if it is still slower than on your local machine, you will have comparable results then.