# Running Databases on EC2

## When to do it: <a href="#when-to-do-it" id="when-to-do-it"></a>

* You have to **run a database or database version that AWS don't support**.<br>
* You have **access to the operating system of the database**.<br>
* You have to **configure some advanced database settings** which aren't available with managed databases.<br>
* You **need a specific OS and Database combination**.

## Disadvantages: <a href="#disadvantages" id="disadvantages"></a>

* You have to manage EC2 and the Database host, which is just **increased admin overhead**.<br>
* You have to **backup manually**.<br>
* EC2 is only in one Availability Zone, so it is **not very highly available**.<br>
* You are **missing out on features from pre-existing AWS database services**.<br>
* There is **no seamless scaling**.