Key Concepts of AWS EC2 for Beginners

Karishma Kochar

Karishma Kochar

Senior AWS Corporate Trainer

What is an Instance?
Security in AWS EC2
Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) is a scalable cloud computing service that allows users to launch virtual servers called instances. Key concepts include Amazon Machine Images (AMIs), which serve as templates for launching instances, and instance types optimized for various workloads. Elastic Load Balancing (ELB) distributes traffic across instances for high availability, while Auto Scaling adjusts the number of instances based on demand. Security groups act as firewalls to control access, and Elastic Block Store (EBS) provides persistent storage for data retention.

AWS EC2 for Beginners: An Introduction

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) is a web service that provides resizable compute capacity in the cloud. It allows users to run virtual servers, known as instances, to host applications and services. EC2 is designed to make web-scale cloud computing easier for developers by providing the following key features:

  • Scalability: Users can quickly scale compute capacity up or down based on demand, allowing for efficient resource utilization and cost management.
  • Variety of Instance Types: EC2 offers a wide range of instance types optimized for different workloads, including general-purpose, compute-optimized, memory-optimized, and storage-optimized options.
  • Flexibility: Users can choose from various operating systems, configurations, and software stacks, making it easy to deploy applications in a manner that suits their specific needs.
  • Pay-as-You-Go Pricing: EC2 operates on a pay-as-you-go model, allowing users to pay only for the compute capacity they use, which helps manage costs effectively.
  • Integration with Other AWS Services: EC2 seamlessly integrates with other AWS services like Amazon S3 for storage, Amazon RDS for databases, and AWS Lambda for serverless computing, enabling powerful, cohesive application architectures.
AWS EC2

AWS EC2 for beginners is an essential service for understanding cloud computing basics. EC2, or Elastic Compute Cloud, enables users to launch virtual servers, known as instances, that provide scalable computing power in the cloud. This service allows you to select the type and size of an instance based on your computing needs, making it flexible and cost-effective. For anyone new to cloud platforms, learning AWS EC2 for beginners can be a straightforward way to gain hands-on experience with virtual machines and understand core cloud concepts.

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What is an Instance?

In the context of Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud), an instance is a virtual server that runs applications in the cloud. Each instance is created from an Amazon Machine Image (AMI), which contains the operating system, application server, and applications needed for deployment.

Key Characteristics of an EC2 Instance:

  • Virtual Server: Instances are essentially virtual machines that simulate the functionality of physical servers, allowing users to run applications without the need for physical hardware.
  • Scalability: Users can launch multiple instances and easily scale up or down based on demand, making it easy to handle varying workloads.
  • Instance Types: EC2 offers various instance types optimized for different use cases, such as general-purpose, compute-optimized, memory-optimized, and storage-optimized, allowing users to choose the best fit for their applications.
  • Configurations: Each instance can be configured with specific resources, such as CPU, memory, and storage, according to the application requirements.
  • Operating System Options: Users can choose from various operating systems when launching instances, including various distributions of Linux and Windows Server.
  • Billing: Instances are billed based on the type and duration of usage, with options for on-demand, reserved, and spot pricing.
 Key Concepts of AWS EC2 for Beginners | NovelVista Learning Solutions

With AWS EC2 for beginners, you can experiment with various instance types, storage options, and configurations, which are suitable for running applications, websites, or even development environments. Amazon EC2's pay-as-you-go model is another attractive feature, as it only charges for resources when they're in use. Understanding these key benefits of AWS EC2 for beginners can help newcomers maximize their resources while learning how to manage and deploy cloud infrastructure effectively.

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Difference between a service and an Instance?

Service

A service is a broad functionality or a collection of features offered by a cloud provider that allows users to perform specific tasks or run applications. It encompasses various resources and capabilities.

Examples:

In AWS, examples of services include Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud), Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service), Amazon RDS (Relational Database Service), and AWS Lambda (serverless computing).

Functionality:

Services can include multiple resources, tools, and interfaces that help users manage and utilize those resources effectively. For instance, EC2 is a service that enables users to launch and manage virtual servers.

Scope:

Services provide high-level abstractions and manage underlying infrastructure, allowing users to focus on application development rather than hardware management.

Instance

An instance refers to a specific virtual server created from a service, particularly in the context of Amazon EC2. It represents a single unit of compute capacity that runs applications.

Examples:

In the case of EC2, an instance is a virtual machine (VM) running on the AWS infrastructure, launched from an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) with specific configurations.

Functionality:

Instances are the individual compute resources where applications and workloads are executed. Each instance can be customized with specific CPU, memory, and storage resources.

Scope:

An instance is a tangible entity within a service, meaning multiple instances can be created from a single service to handle different workloads or applications.

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AWS EC2 for Beginners: Use Cases

Web Hosting:

One of the most common use cases for AWS EC2 is web hosting. Organizations can use EC2 instances to host websites and web applications, taking advantage of the scalability and flexibility offered by the cloud.

Scenario:

A startup launches a web application that experiences fluctuating traffic patterns. During peak times, such as product launches or marketing campaigns, the application needs to handle a surge in users.

Implementation:

The startup deploys multiple EC2 instances behind an Elastic Load Balancer to distribute incoming traffic. They set up Auto Scaling to automatically adjust the number of running instances based on real-time traffic demands.

Benefits:

This setup allows the startup to ensure high availability and performance during peak times while minimizing costs during off-peak periods by scaling down the number of instances.

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Instances Types & AWS EC2 Pricing

EC2 Instance Types

 AWS EC2 Instances Types

AWS EC2 offers a variety of instance types designed to accommodate different workloads and use cases. Mastering AWS EC2 for beginners is a crucial step toward building a strong foundation in cloud computing skills. Here are the main categories:

General Purpose:

  • Example: T3, M5
  • Use Case: Balanced CPU and memory; suitable for web servers, small databases, and development environments.

Compute-Optimized:

  • Example: C5, C6g
  • Use Case: High-performance processing; ideal for compute-intensive applications like high-performance web servers and batch processing.

Memory-Optimized:

  • Example: R5, X1e
  • Use Case: Applications requiring high memory; suitable for in-memory databases like Redis and high-performance analytics.

Storage-Optimized:

  • Example: I3, D3
  • Use Case: High disk throughput; ideal for data-intensive applications, such as NoSQL databases and data warehousing.

Accelerated Computing:

  • Example: P3, G4
  • Use Case: GPU-based processing; suitable for machine learning, graphics rendering, and other applications that benefit from hardware acceleration.

AWS EC2 Pricing

AWS EC2 pricing is flexible and depends on several factors:

On-Demand Instances:

  • Pay for compute capacity by the hour or second, with no long-term commitments. This model is ideal for applications with unpredictable workloads.

Reserved Instances:

  • Commit to using EC2 instances for a one- or three-year term in exchange for a significant discount compared to on-demand pricing. This is suitable for steady-state workloads.

Spot Instances:

  • Bid for unused EC2 capacity at reduced rates. Spot Instances are cost-effective for flexible workloads that can tolerate interruptions, such as batch processing jobs.

Savings Plans:

  • A flexible pricing model that offers significant savings on AWS compute usage (including EC2) in exchange for a commitment to a consistent amount of usage over one or three years.

Free Tier:

  • New AWS customers can use a limited amount of EC2 resources for free for the first 12 months, making it easy to get started with cloud computing.

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How to run systems in EC2?

Running Systems on Amazon EC2: Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Sign In to AWS Management Console
    • Go to the AWS Management Console.
    • Sign in with your AWS account credentials.
  2. Launch an EC2 Instance
    • Navigate to the EC2 Dashboard.
    • Click on "Launch Instance" to start the instance creation process.
  3. Choose an Amazon Machine Image (AMI)
    • Select an AMI that meets your requirements. You can choose from predefined AMIs (Linux, Windows) or create your own custom AMI.
  4. Select Instance Type
    • Choose the appropriate instance type based on your workload (e.g., T3 for general purpose, C5 for compute-optimized).
    • Consider CPU, memory, storage, and network performance when selecting.
  5. Configure Instance Details
    • Set the number of instances and select the desired VPC and subnet.
    • Optionally, configure advanced settings like IAM roles, monitoring, and user data (for bootstrapping).
  6. Add Storage
    • Specify the storage requirements for your instance. You can add additional EBS volumes or change the root volume size and type.
  7. Configure Security Group
    • Set up a security group to define firewall rules for your instance. Specify inbound and outbound traffic rules (e.g., allowing SSH on port 22 or HTTP on port 80).
  8. Review and Launch
    • Review your configuration settings. If everything looks good, click "Launch".
    • Select or create a key pair for SSH access to your instance. Download the key pair file (.pem) and keep it secure.
  9. Access Your Instance
    • After the instance is running, use an SSH client (for Linux/Unix) or Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) (for Windows) to connect to your instance using the public IP address or DNS name.
    • For SSH, use the command: ssh -i your-key-pair.pem ec2-user@your-instance-public-ip
  10. Install and Configure Software
    • Once connected, install and configure the necessary software and applications based on your requirements.
    • For example, you might install a web server (e.g., Apache or Nginx), databases, or application frameworks.
  11. Monitor and Manage Your Instance
    • Use the EC2 Dashboard to monitor instance performance and health. You can check CPU utilization, memory usage, and disk I/O.
    • Set up CloudWatch alarms to receive notifications based on specific metrics or thresholds.
  12. Terminate or Stop the Instance
    • When the instance is no longer needed, you can either stop (to preserve the state and data) or terminate (to delete it and stop incurring costs) the instance from the EC2 Dashboard.

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Security in AWS EC2

 Security in AWS
 
  • Security Groups: Use security groups as virtual firewalls to control inbound and outbound traffic to your EC2 instances. Set rules to only allow necessary traffic.
  • Network ACLs: In addition to security groups, you can use network access control lists (ACLs) to provide an additional layer of security at the subnet level.
  • IAM Roles and Policies: Assign IAM roles to your EC2 instances to grant them the permissions they need without using static credentials. Always follow the principle of least privilege.
  • Key Pairs: Use SSH key pairs for secure access to your instances. Avoid using passwords for SSH authentication.
  • Regular Updates: Keep your operating system and software up to date with security patches to protect against vulnerabilities.
  • Monitoring and Logging: Use AWS CloudTrail and Amazon CloudWatch to monitor your EC2 instances and log activity for auditing and troubleshooting.
  • VPC: Deploy your EC2 instances in a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) to isolate them from the public internet and other networks.
  • EBS Encryption: Enable encryption for your Amazon EBS volumes to protect your data at rest.
  • Data Backup: Regularly back up your data using AWS Backup or snapshots to recover in case of data loss or breaches.
  • Instance Metadata Service (IMDS): Use IMDS v2 for better security against SSRF (Server-Side Request Forgery) vulnerabilities.

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