Module 2: Compute in the Cloud (Part 1) Flashcards
What does Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) provide?
Amazon EC2 provides secure and resizable compute capacity in the cloud in the form of virtual servers known as Amazon EC2 instances.
What are the advantages of using Amazon EC2 instances compared to traditional on-premises resources?
With Amazon EC2 instances, there is no upfront cost for purchasing hardware, no need to wait for physical servers to be delivered, and no manual installation or configuration required. Instances can be provisioned and launched within minutes, and you only pay for the compute time you use.
How does Amazon EC2 work?
The process of using Amazon EC2 involves launching an instance with selected configurations and security settings, connecting to the instance through various methods, and then using the instance to run commands, install software, manage files, and more.
What is an instance type in Amazon EC2?
An instance type refers to the specific hardware configuration of an Amazon EC2 instance, including the operating system, application server, applications, and other specifications.
How does payment work for Amazon EC2 instances?
You only pay for the compute time when an Amazon EC2 instance is running, and not when it is stopped or terminated. This allows for cost savings by paying only for the server capacity that is needed or desired.
What are general purpose instances in Amazon EC2 optimized for?
General purpose instances in Amazon EC2 are optimized for a balance of compute, memory, and networking resources. They are suitable for a variety of workloads, including application servers, gaming servers, backend servers for enterprise applications, and small to medium databases.
What are compute optimized instances in Amazon EC2 ideal for?
Compute optimized instances in Amazon EC2 are ideal for compute-bound applications that benefit from high-performance processors. They are suitable for high-performance web servers, compute-intensive application servers, dedicated gaming servers, and batch processing workloads that require processing many transactions in a single group.
What are memory optimized instances in Amazon EC2 designed for?
Memory optimized instances in Amazon EC2 are designed to deliver fast performance for workloads that process large datasets in memory. They are suitable for high-performance databases, real-time processing of unstructured data, and workloads that require high memory needs and great performance.
What are accelerated computing instances in Amazon EC2 used for?
Accelerated computing instances in Amazon EC2 use hardware accelerators or coprocessors to perform certain functions more efficiently. They are suitable for workloads such as graphics applications, game streaming, and application streaming.
What are storage optimized instances in Amazon EC2 designed for?
Storage optimized instances in Amazon EC2 are designed for workloads that require high, sequential read and write access to large datasets on local storage. They are suitable for distributed file systems, data warehousing applications, and high-frequency online transaction processing (OLTP) systems that require tens of thousands of low-latency, random IOPS.
What are the pricing options for Amazon EC2 instances?
Amazon EC2 offers different pricing options, including On-Demand Instances, Amazon EC2 Savings Plans, Reserved Instances, Spot Instances, and Dedicated Hosts.
What are On-Demand Instances in Amazon EC2 suitable for?
On-Demand Instances in Amazon EC2 are ideal for short-term, irregular workloads that require continuous running and cannot be interrupted. They have no upfront costs or minimum contracts, and you pay only for the compute time you use.
What are Amazon EC2 Savings Plans and how do they help reduce costs?
Amazon EC2 Savings Plans allow you to commit to a consistent amount of compute usage for a 1-year or 3-year term, resulting in savings of up to 72% over On-Demand costs. Usage up to the commitment is charged at the discounted rate, while usage beyond the commitment is charged at regular On-Demand rates.
What are Reserved Instances in Amazon EC2 and what are the benefits?
Reserved Instances are a billing discount applied to On-Demand Instances. They can be purchased for a 1-year or 3-year term and offer greater cost savings. At the end of the term, you can continue using the instance without interruption or purchase a new Reserved Instance.
What are Spot Instances in Amazon EC2 and when are they useful?
Spot Instances are suitable for workloads with flexible start and end times or those that can tolerate interruptions. They offer cost savings of up to 90% off On-Demand prices by utilizing unused EC2 capacity. Spot Instances may be interrupted if capacity is no longer available or demand for Spot Instances increases.
