🖥️ EC2 Index
AWS Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) provides scalable computing capacity in the AWS cloud. This section covers everything from basic instances to advanced load balancing and auto scaling configurations.
Overview
EC2 allows you to launch virtual servers (instances) in the cloud with complete control over computing resources. You can scale capacity up or down based on demand, paying only for what you use.
Core Concepts
Instance Fundamentals
- 1 EC2 Overview - EC2 basics, Elastic IPs, and SSH connectivity
- 2 Instance Types - Understanding EC2 instance families and use cases
- 5 AMI - Amazon Machine Images for instance templates
Networking
- 3 EC2 IP Addresses - Public, private, and Elastic IP addresses
- 4 Elastic Network Interface - ENI for advanced networking
Purchasing and Cost Optimization
- 6 EC2 Purchasing Options - On-Demand, Reserved, Spot, and Dedicated
- 7 Spot Instances - Cost-effective compute for flexible workloads
- 8 EC2 Hibernate - Pause and resume instances
Storage
- 9 EBS and EFS Storage - Block storage (EBS) and file storage (EFS)
Configuration and Automation
- 10 User Data and Bootstrap - Automate instance configuration at launch
High Availability and Scaling
- 11 Auto Scaling Groups - Automatic capacity scaling
- 12 Application Load Balancer - Layer 7 load balancing
- 13 Network Load Balancer - Layer 4 load balancing
- 14 Target Groups - Route requests to registered targets
Hands-On
- 15 Lab Resources - Practical labs and exercises
Learning Path
Follow this sequence for optimal understanding:
- Basics: 1 EC2 Overview - Understand EC2 fundamentals
- Instance Types: 2 Instance Types - Choose the right instance
- Networking: 3 EC2 IP Addresses and 4 Elastic Network Interface
- Images: 5 AMI - Create and use custom images
- Cost: 6 EC2 Purchasing Options and 7 Spot Instances
- Storage: 9 EBS and EFS Storage - Persistent storage options
- Automation: 10 User Data and Bootstrap - Automate setup
- Scaling: 11 Auto Scaling Groups - Handle variable load
- Load Balancing: 12 Application Load Balancer and 13 Network Load Balancer
- Practice: 15 Lab Resources - Hands-on experience
Key Concepts
Instance Types
- General Purpose - Balanced compute, memory, and networking
- Compute Optimized - High-performance processors
- Memory Optimized - Fast performance for memory-intensive workloads
- Storage Optimized - High sequential read/write access
- Accelerated Computing - GPU instances for ML and graphics
Purchasing Options
- On-Demand - Pay by the hour/second, no commitment
- Reserved Instances - 1 or 3-year commitment for cost savings
- Spot Instances - Bid on spare capacity for up to 90% savings
- Dedicated Hosts - Physical servers for compliance requirements
Load Balancing
- Application Load Balancer (ALB) - HTTP/HTTPS traffic, Layer 7
- Network Load Balancer (NLB) - TCP/UDP traffic, Layer 4, ultra-low latency
- Target Groups - Register instances, containers, or IP addresses
Storage Options
- EBS (Elastic Block Store) - Persistent block storage
- EFS (Elastic File System) - Managed NFS file system
- Instance Store - Temporary block storage (ephemeral)
Best Practices
Security
- Use Security Groups to control inbound/outbound traffic
- Use IAM roles instead of storing credentials on instances
- Keep instances in private subnets when possible
- Use Systems Manager Session Manager instead of SSH when possible
Cost Optimization
- Right-size instances based on actual usage
- Use Spot Instances for fault-tolerant workloads
- Purchase Reserved Instances for steady-state workloads
- Stop instances when not in use (dev/test environments)
High Availability
- Deploy across multiple Availability Zones
- Use Auto Scaling Groups for automatic recovery
- Use Elastic Load Balancers for traffic distribution
- Regular AMI backups for disaster recovery
Performance
- Choose appropriate instance types for workload
- Use enhanced networking when available
- Place instances close to data sources
- Use placement groups for low-latency requirements
Related Topics
Prerequisites
- VPC - Networking foundation
- Security Groups - Instance-level firewall
- Internet Fundamentals
Next Steps
- ECS - Container orchestration on EC2
- Kubernetes - Container orchestration
- Linux - System administration
Advanced Topics
- CloudFormation - Infrastructure as Code
- System Design - Architecture patterns
Common Use Cases
- Web Applications - Host websites and web applications
- Batch Processing - Run large-scale batch jobs
- Development/Testing - Create isolated development environments
- High-Performance Computing - Scientific simulations and modeling
- Machine Learning - Train and deploy ML models
- Gaming Servers - Host multiplayer game servers
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
- Cannot connect via SSH - Check Security Group rules for port 22
- Instance not accessible - Verify VPC, subnet, and route table configuration
- High costs - Review instance types and consider Reserved/Spot instances
- Performance issues - Monitor CloudWatch metrics and right-size instances