ALB resource plans

ALB resource plans are prepaid packages for Application Load Balancer (ALB). After you purchase a resource plan and it takes effect, it automatically offsets the Load Balancer Capacity Unit (LCU) fees and instance fees generated by ALB. Compared with the pay-as-you-go billing method, ALB resource plans offer greater discounts. You can also flexibly set the effective time of an ALB resource plan based on your business needs, which makes them ideal for enterprises with fixed budgets.

Features

Ready to use without configuration

You can choose an activation time when you purchase a plan. Once active, the plan automatically applies deductions without manual setup.
Multiple sizes to fit your needs

Plans are available in various sizes, from 1,000 to 100,000 LCUs, and can be stacked to accommodate businesses of all sizes.
Cost-effective

ALB resource plans are more cost-effective than the pay-as-you-go pricing model, and the larger the specifications, the lower the unit price. Using ALB with ALB resource plans can help you save on network costs.

Supported regions

Area	Supported regions
Chinese mainland	China (Qingdao), China (Beijing), China (Zhangjiakou), China (Ulanqab), China (Hangzhou), China (Shanghai), China (Shenzhen), China (Chengdu), China (Guangzhou), China (Heyuan)
Outside Chinese mainland	China (Hong Kong), Japan (Tokyo), Singapore, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Indonesia (Jakarta), US (Virginia), US (Silicon Valley), Germany (Frankfurt), UK (London), South Korea (Seoul), Philippines (Manila), Thailand (Bangkok), SAU (Riyadh - Partner Region), Mexico, UAE (Dubai)

Plan sizes and pricing

Note

The prices listed below are for reference only. For the actual price, refer to the buy page.

Name	Size	Price (USD)
Micro	1,000 LCU	7
Small	10,000 LCU	69
Medium	50,000 LCU	340
Large	100,000 LCU	665

Purchase and deduction rules

Rule	Description
ALB resource plan purchase rules	You can choose to activate an ALB resource plan immediately after payment or at a specified time. Stackable purchases are supported, and there is no upper limit. Multiple ALB resource plans are deducted based on their expiration dates. The ALB resource plan that expires first is prioritized for deduction. Note Usage that exceeds your ALB resource plan capacity is automatically billed at pay-as-you-go rates.
Billable items covered	Instance fee and LCU fee. Important ALB resource plans do not cover ALB internet data transfer fees.
Deduction rates	Instance fee: Basic edition: 1 LCU is deducted per hour. Standard edition: 3 LCUs are deducted per hour. WAF-enabled edition: 5 LCUs are deducted per hour. LCU fee: Deducted at a `1:1` ratio against your actual LCU consumption.

Purchase resource plan

Purchase guide

To select the best resource plan, consider your expected usage, area of use, and desired activation time.

Procedure

Log on to the ALB console.
In the , choose ALB > ALB Resource Plans.
On the ALB Resource Plans page, click Buy Now.

On the ALB Resource Plans (International) page, select the desired area, size, quantity, activation time, and validity period. Then, click Buy Now and complete the payment.

Parameter	Description
Area	Select the area where the resource plan will be used. Options are Chinese Mainland and Outside Chinese Mainland.
Size	Select the plan size. Each size corresponds to a different number of Load Balancer Capacity Units (LCUs).
Quantity	Specify the number of plans to purchase.
Activation Time	Select when the resource plan becomes active. Immediately after Payment: The plan activates as soon as the payment is completed. Custom: The plan activates at a specified time.
Select Custom Time	Specify the plan's activation time. Note This parameter is available only if you set Activation Time to Immediately after Payment.
Validity Period	Select the validity period of the resource plan. By default, you can only select 1 Year.

View resource plan usage details

Before you begin, make sure you have purchased a resource plan.

Log on to the ALB console.
In the , choose ALB > ALB Resource Plans.
On the ALB Resource Plans page, click My resource plans.
On the Manage Reserved Instances page, you can view a summary and the usage details of your resource plans.
- Click the Instances tab to view summary information, such as the owner account, plan name, instance ID, size, remaining capacity, activation time, and expiration time.
  - In the upper-right corner of the resource plan list, click Customize Column Options to customize the displayed information.
  - In the upper-right corner of the resource plan list, click Export to download the resource plan overview.
- Click the Details tab to view detailed consumption records.
  - Filter the deduction details by Start Time, Instance Name, and Deducted Instance ID.
  - In the upper-right corner of the list, click Customize Column Options to customize the displayed consumption details.
  - In the upper-right corner of the list, click Export to download the deduction details.

Set resource plan alerts

You can set an alert that notifies you when a plan's remaining capacity drops to a specified level. The system sends notifications through SMS, email, or internal messages.

Log on to the ALB console.
In the left-side navigation pane, choose ALB > ALB Resource Plans.
On the ALB Resource Plans page, click My resource plans.
On the Manage Reserved Instances page, click the Instances tab. In the upper-right corner of the resource plan list, click Set Remaining Quota Alert to set the alert threshold.
In the Set Remaining Quota Alert dialog box, set the desired alert threshold for the remaining quota, and then click OK.
Note
You can set the alert threshold based on your usage habits. For example, you can set an alert to trigger when the remaining capacity of the resource plan drops to 20%.
The following table describes the parameters.
- Set Remaining Quota Alert Uniformly: When you enable the Set Remaining Quota Alert Uniformly switch, all resource plan alerts are simultaneously enabled.
- Remaining Quota Ratio: Set a bulk alert threshold for all resource plans. Options are 5%, 10%, 20%, and 30%.
- Resource Package Name: If you want to set different alert thresholds for different resource plans, enable the Enable Alert switch for a specific plan and set its Remaining Quota Ratio. Options are 5%, 10%, 20%, and 30%.
Hover over the icon in the top navigation bar and click Message Settings.
On the Common Settings page, select Notifications of Product Expiration and then click Add Message Recipient below the list.
In the Modify Contact dialog box, select existing contacts and click Save.

FAQ

When does an ALB resource plan take effect?
- When you purchase an ALB resource plan, selecting Immediately after Payment means that the ALB resource plan takes effect immediately after payment.
- If you select Custom when you purchase an ALB resource plan, the ALB resource plan activates at your specified time.
Are ALB resource plans deducted in the order of purchase?

ALB applies ALB resource plans based on their expiration dates, starting with the ALB resource plan that expires first.
Can I export the deduction details of an ALB resource plan?

Yes. ALB resource plans allow you to view specific deduction details, including the deducted instance ID, deducted amount, deduction time, and billable item. For more information, see View resource plan usage details.
Are ALB resource plans refundable?

No. ALB resource plans are non-refundable. Any unused capacity in an ALB resource plan is cleared upon expiration and is non-transferable.
Is an ALB resource plan more cost-effective than using ALB on a pay-as-you-go basis?

The Micro ALB resource plan is priced the same as the pay-as-you-go rate. All other plan sizes are more cost-effective than the pay-as-you-go model. The larger the plan you purchase, the greater the savings.
Can I stack multiple ALB resource plans?

Yes, you can stack multiple plans. Deductions for the same type of resource plan are applied to the one that expires soonest.
Do I need to configure an ALB resource plan after purchase?

No. ALB resource plans require no configuration after purchase. You only need to set the activation time for the ALB resource plan when you purchase it.
How do I check the usage of my ALB resource plans?

The Alibaba Cloud Billing and Cost Management console provides an overview and detailed usage records for your resource plans. You can search for the remaining quota and deduction details of your plans using parameters such as Effective At. For more information, go to the Manage Reserved Instances page.