How to install and use Env Start/Stop Scheduler add-on?

Cloud computing works well for both steady and changing workloads. However, if there’s no clear distinction between them, users might use cloud resources inefficiently. The self-estimated waste could be around 30%, but through careful analysis, it might reach up to 70% for software that doesn’t run all the time.

There are different ways to optimize cloud expenses to save money and use the budget wisely. Some common methods include monitoring and adjusting the size of instances, automating the pausing of temporary work, turning off work during specific hours, and choosing a cloud or region based on price.

In this discussion, we’ll explore how to automatically schedule the start and stop of workloads using a scheduler. This is a simple yet highly effective way to save money, especially for cloud development, testing, or staging environments. During these stages, the environment isn’t always needed, such as at night or on weekends. Looking at a week with 5 working days and approximately 10 hours each, you can see that about 70% of resources are wasted during non-working hours. Stopping the environment during these idle periods can be a wise decision to reduce costs. Doing it manually is inefficient, so automation is key.

AccuWeb.Cloud has developed a scheduler add-on to automate the stopping and starting of operations for any environment on the cloud platform. It’s easy to configure and can lead to significant savings, especially when dealing with multiple environments. In the following steps, we’ll guide you on installing and managing this add-on and various configurations for everyday use cases.

Setting Up the Hibernation Scheduler

The Env Start/Stop Scheduler is a default add-on available at AccuWeb.Cloud Marketplace, making the installation process easy and automated.

Step 1: Log in to the dashboard and click the Marketplace button at the top.

Step 2: Switch to the Add-ons tab and find the Env Start/Stop Scheduler. Hover over it and click the Install button.

Step 3: Customize the add-on based on your needs by:

Turn on the Stop/Start toggles and specify the time for the environment to stop/start.

Selecting the days of the week for each action.

Choosing a preferred Time Zone.

Provide the Environment name (the target environment to be managed by the add-on).

Nodes (environment layer where the add-on will be installed; usually leave it as the default choice).

Note: The Start/Stop Scheduler can only run on one layer simultaneously. If integrated into several layers, only the last installed or reconfigured one will work.

Click Install to add the scheduler.

Step 4: Shortly after, you’ll receive a notification confirming the successful completion of the operation.

That’s it! The add-on is installed and ready to regulate your environment’s activity time based on your schedule, following the chosen Time Zone.

Managing the Hibernation Scheduler

If you want to change when your environment starts or stops after installing the scheduler, you can do it easily through the dashboard:

Step 1: Click the Add-Ons icon next to the environment layer where the solution was installed. Find the scheduler in the opened tab and select the Configure button.

Step 2: In the displayed frame, you can set new values for the Stop and Start time, Days, and Time Zone. For instance, you can choose not to include weekends so that the environments will be completely inactive during these days. Click Apply to use the new settings.

Note: Only one collaborator can install and configure the add-on if the destination environment is shared among several collaborators. So, ensure only one collaborator installs and configures it to avoid confusion.

Step 3: If you’re moving your project to production or no longer need the solution, use the menu at the top right corner of the scheduler configuration to Uninstall it.

That’s it! Now you know how to reduce cloud waste by automatically scheduling hibernation using the AccuWeb.Cloud Env Start/Stop Scheduler add-on. Organize your environment’s uptime to save resources and funds, especially for your testing and development environments running with AccuWeb.Cloud PaaS.

Conclusion

In conclusion, installing and using the Env Start/Stop Scheduler add-on is a straightforward process that can help you save resources and money in your cloud environment. You can easily set up the scheduler through the dashboard, adjusting start and stop times, days of the week, and time zones according to your needs.

If you ever need to make changes or no longer require the scheduler, you can manage it effortlessly through the dashboard. By automating your environment’s start and stop times, you can efficiently manage your cloud usage, especially for testing and development, ensuring optimal resource utilization and cost savings.