AWS RDS Support
Fix AWS RDS storage full and set up autoscaling.
An RDS instance that runs out of free storage can stop accepting writes or go into a storage-full state. Recovery means adding space safely, then finding what grew: tables, logs, binary logs, temp files or a stuck replication slot. We fix both the emergency and the cause.
When You Need This
The situations where this work pays for itself.
Signs it is time
- FreeStorageSpace is near zero or the instance status says storage-full
- Storage keeps growing faster than your data does
- A PostgreSQL instance filled up after a replica or DMS task stopped
- Autoscaling is off and you want a safe policy
- You need to plan growth and cost for the next year
What you get
- Breakdown of what consumed storage and why
- Storage increase and autoscaling configuration
- Cleanup or retention changes for logs, slots and old data
- Alarms and a growth forecast
How we do it
A clear, safe process you can follow along with.
1. Add space immediately
We increase allocated storage with a modify-db-instance call. This works while the instance is online, though storage optimization can take hours and RDS limits how often storage can be changed, so we do it once with enough headroom.
2. Find what grew
We split usage into tables and indexes, temporary files, engine logs, transaction logs and backups of logs. CloudWatch metrics and engine queries show the largest relations and how fast they grow.
3. Check the usual suspects
On PostgreSQL, inactive replication slots keep WAL files forever, and long-running transactions block vacuum. On MySQL, long binary log retention or a lagging replica holds binlogs. We also check unbounded log and temp table growth.
4. Reclaim space where possible
We drop unused data, archive old partitions, and run vacuum or optimize steps carefully, since some operations need free space to run and shrinking allocated RDS storage is not supported without migrating.
5. Enable storage autoscaling
We set a maximum storage threshold so RDS expands storage automatically when free space runs low. Autoscaling has trigger conditions and a wait between changes, so it complements alarms rather than replacing them.
6. Alarm and forecast
We create alarms on FreeStorageSpace at several levels and a growth forecast so storage is a planned cost, not an incident.
Mistakes we help you avoid
Common ways this goes wrong, and what we do instead.
Expecting to shrink the volume afterwards
RDS storage cannot be reduced in place. Right-size by migrating to a new instance.
Forgetting replication slots
An abandoned slot can fill the disk with WAL on PostgreSQL.
Setting autoscaling with no ceiling alert
Runaway growth then becomes a runaway bill. We set a sensible maximum and alarms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does RDS storage autoscaling work automatically?
Yes once you set a maximum storage threshold. It adds storage when free space is low for a sustained period, subject to a minimum wait since the last modification.
Can I reduce allocated storage on RDS?
Not in place. To shrink it, create a new instance with less storage and migrate the data, for example with a dump and restore or AWS DMS.
Why is my RDS storage full with little data?
Logs, WAL or binary logs, temporary files, bloat from dead rows and inactive replication slots commonly consume space beyond the visible tables.
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