AWS EC2

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) is a cornerstone service within the AWS platform.
Here's an introduction to its key aspects:

What is AWS EC2?

• EC2 is a web service that provides secure, resizable compute capacity in the cloud.
• It essentially offers virtual servers – called EC2 instances – that you can launch and
configure on-demand.
• These instances behave like physical servers, allowing you to install operating
systems, applications, and software just like you would on a traditional server.

Benefits of using AWS EC2:

• Scalability: Easily scale your resources (number of instances) up or down as your

needs change.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Pay only for what you use with a pay-as-you-go pricing model.
• Flexibility: Choose from a wide range of instance types with varying CPU, memory,
storage, and network capabilities.
• High Availability: Utilize multiple Availability Zones (AZs) within a Region for
fault tolerance and redundancy.
• Security: Leverage AWS's robust security infrastructure and features to protect your
instances.

Key Features of EC2:

• Instance Types: A vast selection of instance types optimized for different workloads,
from general-purpose to compute-intensive tasks.
• Amazon Machine Images (AMIs): Pre-configured templates with operating systems
and software, simplifying instance setup.
• Storage Options: Choose between ephemeral (instance store) or persistent (EBS)
storage for your instances.
• Networking: Configure security groups and network settings to control access to
your instances.
 • Auto Scaling: Automatically scale your EC2 fleet based on predefined rules and
metrics.

EC2 Types

AWS EC2 offers a wide range of instance types, each optimized for different workloads and
resource needs. Here's a breakdown of the main categories:

General Purpose Instances:

• Balanced mix of CPU, memory, and storage resources.

• Suitable for a variety of applications, including web servers, application servers, and
small databases.
• Examples: T3, T4, M5, M6

Compute Optimized Instances:

• High CPU performance ideal for compute-intensive tasks like scientific computing,
video encoding, and batch processing.
• Examples: C5, C6, C7g

Memory Optimized Instances:

• Large amounts of memory for workloads requiring in-memory processing, such as

large databases, caching, and big data analytics.
• Examples: R5, R6g, R5a

Storage Optimized Instances:

• High storage capacity and throughput for applications that require frequent disk
access, like data warehousing and log processing.
• Examples: H1, D3, D4dn

Accelerated Computing Instances:

• Specialized instances with hardware accelerators like GPUs (Graphics Processing

Units) and FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays) for workloads requiring high
 performance in specific areas like machine learning, video processing, and scientific
simulations.
• Examples: P4, G5, G4dn, F1

Choosing the Right EC2 Type:

The best EC2 type depends on your specific needs. Here are some factors to consider:

• Workload Requirements: Identify the primary function of the instance (web server,
database, machine learning).
• CPU Cores: Determine the number of CPU cores needed for your workload.
• Memory: Calculate the amount of memory required for your application to run
smoothly.
• Storage: Assess the storage capacity and throughput needed for your data.
• Cost: Consider the pricing of different instance types and choose the most cost-
effective option that meets your needs.
EC2 – Pricing Model:

AWS EC2 offers several pricing models to cater to different needs and usage patterns. Here's
a breakdown of the key options:

1. On-Demand Instances:

• Pay per hour or per second (for Linux instances) for the compute capacity you use.
• No upfront commitments or long-term contracts required.
• Ideal for:
o Short-term, unpredictable workloads.
o Applications with spiky traffic patterns.
o Development and testing environments.

2. Reserved Instances:

• Purchase reserved instances for a one or three-year term and receive significant
discounts (up to 75%) compared to On-Demand pricing.
• Ensures capacity reservation in a specific Availability Zone, providing greater control
and predictability.
• Ideal for:
o Predictable workloads with consistent resource requirements.
o Applications that require guaranteed availability.
o Cost optimization for long-running workloads.

3. Spot Instances:

• Bid on unused EC2 capacity and potentially get instances at a much lower price than
On-Demand instances (up to 90% discount).
• Availability is not guaranteed, as instances can be interrupted by AWS when needed
for other purposes.
• Ideal for:
o Highly flexible workloads that can tolerate interruptions.
o Batch processing tasks that can be restarted.
o Cost-sensitive applications that can handle potential downtime.
4. Savings Plans:

• Commit to a consistent level of usage (measured in $/hour) for a one or three-year

term and receive discounted rates on your EC2, SageMaker, Lambda, and Fargate
usage.
• Offers flexibility compared to Reserved Instances as you're not locked into specific
instance types or Availability Zones.
• Ideal for:
o Predictable workloads with consistent usage patterns.
o Achieving significant cost savings over On-Demand pricing.

Instance Launch

1. Accessing the EC2 Console:

• Go to the AWS Management Console: https://console.aws.amazon.com/

• Sign in with your AWS account credentials.
• In the Services menu, search for "EC2" and click on it.

2. Launching an Instance:

• Click on the orange "Launch Instance" button.

3. Choosing an AMI (Amazon Machine Image):

• An AMI is a template that defines the operating system, software, and configurations
for your instance.
• Select an AMI based on your needs. For this demo, let's choose "Amazon Linux 2".
• Ensure the chosen AMI is free tier eligible.

4. Selecting an Instance Type:

• Instance types offer varying CPU, memory, storage, and network capabilities.
• For this demo, let's choose a T2 Micro instance, which is also free tier eligible.

5. Configuring Instance Details:

 • You can keep the default settings for most options in this demo.
• Under "Storage," ensure you have enough storage space for your intended use.

6. Adding Security Group:

• A security group defines the inbound and outbound network traffic rules for your
instance.
• For this demo, you can create a new security group with basic rules to allow SSH
access from your IP address.

7. Reviewing and Launching:

• Review the instance details to ensure everything is configured as desired.

• Click "Launch" to initiate the instance creation process.

8. Monitoring and Connecting:

• You can monitor the instance launch progress in the EC2 console.
• Once the instance is running, you'll see its public IP address.
• To connect to the instance, you'll need a key pair (generated during launch) or utilize
AWS EC2 Instance Connect (a browser-based connection tool).

Important Notes:

• This is a simplified demo focusing on the core steps.

• For real-world scenarios, you might need to configure additional settings based on
your specific needs.
• Remember to terminate the instance when you're done to avoid unnecessary charges.