Other Compute Services: ECS, Lambda, Batch, Lightsail

Question 1

How do you get charged in AWS Lambda?

a) Per programming language
b) Per number of functions
c) Per call and per duration
d) Per inactive time

Answer 1

c) Per call and per duration

In AWS Lambda, you are charged per request and compute time, that’s it.

Question 2

You would like a serverless service to launch Docker containers with no infrastructure to provision. Which AWS service should you use?

a) ECS
b) Fargate
c) ECR
d) Lambda

Answer 2

b) Fargate

Fargate allows you to launch Docker containers on AWS, and you don’t need to provision and maintain the infrastructure ( = no EC2 instances to manage). It is serverless.

Question 3

A complete cloud beginner would like to create a simple application with predictable pricing. What service should this person use?

a) EC2
b) Lambda
c) Lightsail
d) EasyStart

Answer 3

c) Lightsail

Amazon Lightsail is designed to be the easiest way to launch and manage a virtual private server with AWS. Lightsail plans include everything you need to jumpstart your project – a virtual machine, SSD- based storage, data transfer, DNS management, and a static IP address – for a low, predictable price. It can be used to create a simple web application, a website, or a dev/test environment.

Question 4

What is the name of the software development platform that allows you to run applications the same way, regardless of where they are run?

a) Dolphin
b) Shark
c) Docker
d) ECS

Answer 4

c) Docker

Docker is a software development platform that allows you to run applications the same way, regardless of where they are run. It can scale containers up and down within seconds.

Question 5

How would you best describe “event-driven” in AWS Lambda?

a) Happens on a certain day
b) Happens at a certain time
c) Happens on a regular basis
d) Happens when needed

Answer 5

d) Happens when needed

“Event-driven” in Lambda means that functions are invoked when needed. They are triggered.

Question 6

Which AWS service allows you to launch Docker containers on AWS, but requires you to provision and maintain the infrastructure?

a) ECR
b) EC2
c) ECS
d) Fargate

Answer 6

c) ECS

ECS allows you to launch Docker containers on AWS, but you must provision and maintain the infrastructure (i.e. EC2 instances).

Question 7

Which of the following statements is INCORRECT regarding the definition of the term “serverless”?

a) Serverless allows you to deploy functions as a service
b) There are no servers
c) You don’t need to manage servers
d) Lambda is the serverless pioneer

Answer 7

b) There are no servers

Serverless does not mean that there are no servers, you just do not manage, provision, and see them, but they do exist.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is NOT a feature of AWS Lambda?

a) Integration with the whole AWS suite of services
b) Virtual functions
c) Automated and continuous scaling
d) Definition of a minimum and a maximum of EC2 instances running

Answer 8

d) Definition of a minimum and a maximum of EC2 instances running

This is a feature of Auto Scaling Groups, not AWS Lambda.

Question 9

A company needs to run thousands of jobs but would like to NOT manage the compute resources. What service can it use?

a) ECS
b) EC2 Spot Instances
c) EC2 Instances
d) Batch

Answer 9

d) Batch

AWS Batch enables developers, scientists, and engineers to easily and efficiently run hundreds of thousands of batch computing jobs on AWS. AWS Batch dynamically provisions the optimal quantity and type of computing resources (e.g., CPU or memory-optimized instances) based on the volume and specific resource requirements of the batch jobs submitted.

Question 10

Where should you store your private Docker images so they can be run by ECS or Fargate?

a) Elastic Docker Registry
b) Elastic Docker File Registry
c) Elastic Container Registry
d) Elastic Private Container Registry

Answer 10

c) Elastic Container Registry

Elastic Container Registry (ECR) is a service where you store your Docker images so they can be run by ECS or Fargate.

Question 11

What are the differences between Lambda and Batch?

Answer 11

Lamda

• Time limit, which is 15 minutes
• Limited runtimes, few programming languages
• Limited temporary disk space
• Serverless
• No docker support

Batch

• No time limit, it relies on EC2 instances
• Any runtime as long as it’s package as a Docker image
• Rely on EBS / instance store for disk space
• Relies on EC2 (can be managed by AWS)