3.3.1 - EC2 Instance Types
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Understanding EC2 Instance Types
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Alright everyone, today we'll explore EC2 instance types. Who can tell me the definition of an EC2 instance?
It's a virtual machine in the AWS cloud!
Exactly! A virtual server that you can configure. Now, can anyone name the different families of EC2 instances?
General Purpose, Compute Optimized, Memory Optimized, Storage Optimized, and Accelerated Computing!
Great job! Let's remember them as 'G-C-M-S-A'. Does anyone want to explain what each one is used for?
General Purpose is for balanced workloads, while Compute Optimized is for CPU-intensive tasks.
Correct! And what about Memory Optimized?
Itβs for applications that use a lot of memory, like databases.
Exactly! [summarizes] So remember 'G-C-M-S-A' for the instance types: General, Compute, Memory, Storage, and Accelerated.
Instance Use Cases
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Let's dive deeper into when we might choose each instance type. Who can give a use case for the General Purpose instances?
Theyβre great for web servers!
Correct! And what about Compute Optimized?
They'd be used for batch processing and high-performance web servers.
Exactly! Now, which instances should we use for database applications?
Memory Optimized instances for sure!
Perfect! [summarizes] So remember, General Purpose for balanced loads, Compute for performance, and Memory for databases!
Pricing Models of EC2
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Now, let's talk about how we pay for EC2 instances. Can someone explain On-Demand Instances?
They let you pay per hour or second without a commitment.
Good! Why would someone choose Reserved Instances?
To save money if they plan to use them continuously for a year or more.
Exactly! How about Spot Instances?
You can bid for spare capacity and save money, but they can get interrupted.
Correct! They are great for batch jobs. [summarizes] So we pay for instances either On-Demand, Reserved, or via bidding on Spot Instances.
Introduction & Overview
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Quick Overview
Standard
Amazon EC2 provides a variety of instance types tailored for specific tasks such as general purpose, compute optimized, memory optimized, storage optimized, and accelerated computing. Pricing models include On-Demand, Reserved, Spot Instances, and Savings Plans, allowing users to select the best economic strategy for their usage patterns.
Detailed
EC2 Instance Types and Pricing Models
Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) offers multiple instance types optimized for a range of workloads. Each instance has unique specifications tailored to different use cases. Users can utilize families like General Purpose for balanced needs, Compute Optimized for intensive CPU tasks, Memory Optimized for heavy-memory applications, Storage Optimized for IO-intensive workloads, and Accelerated Computing for GPU tasks like machine learning.
1. Instance Types
- General Purpose: Balanced CPU, memory, and networking for web servers and development environments.
- Compute Optimized: Ideal for high-performance web applications.
- Memory Optimized: Suited for databases and big data analytics.
- Storage Optimized: Best for real-time data warehousing.
- Accelerated Computing: Supports GPU workloads for demanding applications such as machine learning.
2. Pricing Models
- On-Demand Instances: Allow users to pay for compute capacity by the hour or second, with no long-term commitment, beneficial for unpredictable workloads.
- Reserved Instances: Offer a significant discount (up to 75%) in exchange for committing to a longer usage term (1 or 3 years), suitable for steady-state workloads.
- Spot Instances: Allow users to bid for spare capacity at substantially reduced prices, useful for flexible workloads that can tolerate interruptions.
- Savings Plans: Provide flexibility with discounts based on a commitment to consistent usage.
Understanding the strengths of each instance type and the implications of varying pricing models is essential for optimizing cost-effectiveness and performance in cloud application deployments.
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Overview of EC2 Instance Types
Chapter 1 of 2
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Chapter Content
AWS offers many instance types optimized for different workloads:
Family Description Use Case Examples
General Purpose (t3, m5) Balanced CPU, memory, and networking Web servers, dev/test environments
Compute Optimized (c5) High CPU to memory ratio Batch processing, high-performance web servers
Memory Optimized (r5) Large memory sizes Databases, real-time big data analytics
Storage Optimized (i3) High IO performance NoSQL databases, data warehousing
Accelerated Computing (p3) GPU-based computing Machine learning, video processing
Detailed Explanation
AWS offers several types of EC2 instances, each designed for specific use cases. This allows users to choose an instance that meets their workload requirements:
- General Purpose Instances (t3, m5): These instances provide a balance of compute, memory, and networking resources. They are suitable for a variety of applications, including web servers and development/test environments.
- Compute Optimized Instances (c5): These instances are designed for workloads that require high CPU power relative to memory. They are excellent for batch processing and high-performance web servers.
- Memory Optimized Instances (r5): Instances that offer larger memory sizes, ideal for memory-intensive applications like databases and real-time big data analytics.
- Storage Optimized Instances (i3): These instances deliver high input/output performance, making them suitable for NoSQL databases and data warehousing.
- Accelerated Computing Instances (p3): These instances are equipped with GPU capabilities for tasks such as machine learning and video processing.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine you're shopping for a car. Different types of cars serve different purposes: a sedan is great for families, a sports car is built for speed, a truck is ideal for heavy lifting, and an electric car saves on fuel costs. Similarly, AWS EC2 instance types cater to different application needs, ensuring you pick the perfect 'vehicle' for your cloud workloads.
Pricing Models for EC2 Instances
Chapter 2 of 2
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Chapter Content
Pricing Models:
- On-Demand Instances:
Pay per hour or second, no long-term commitment. Useful for unpredictable workloads or short-term testing. - Reserved Instances:
Commit for 1 or 3 years and get up to 75% discount. Good for steady state workloads. - Spot Instances:
Bid for spare AWS capacity at up to 90% discount. Ideal for flexible, interruptible workloads like big data and batch jobs. - Savings Plans:
Flexible pricing model offering discounts in exchange for a commitment to consistent usage.
Example:
Running a t2.micro On-Demand instance might cost $0.0116 per hour, but with a 1-year Reserved Instance, it could drop to $0.007 per hour.
Detailed Explanation
AWS EC2 offers several pricing models to accommodate various usage patterns:
- On-Demand Instances: These allow you to pay for the compute capacity you use by the hour or second, without any long-term commitment. This is great for workloads that are unpredictable or for short-term projects, making it a flexible option.
- Reserved Instances: By committing to use an instance for a 1 or 3-year term, you can receive significant discounts (up to 75%). This model is ideal for predictable workloads that require consistent usage over time.
- Spot Instances: These instances allow customers to bid on spare AWS capacity at highly reduced prices, sometimes up to 90% less than the standard rates. Spot instances are perfect for flexible workloads that can withstand interruptions, such as batch jobs.
- Savings Plans: Similar to Reserved Instances, this flexible pricing model gives you discounts based on a commitment to use specific amounts of compute usage over a given period, enhancing cost efficiency.
An example provides a clearer picture: Running a t2.micro instance as an On-Demand instance might cost you $0.0116 per hour. However, if you opt for a 1-year Reserved Instance, the price could drop to $0.007 per hour.
Examples & Analogies
Think about how you pay for utilities in your home. You might pay monthly for electricity (On-Demand), commit to a long-term contract at a fixed rate (Reserved), take advantage of special off-peak rates (Spot), or enroll in a plan where you pay a flat fee for a certain amount of usage (Savings Plans). Similarly, AWS offers flexible options to optimize costs based on your cloud usage habits.
Key Concepts
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Amazon EC2: A service to rent virtual machines in the cloud.
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EC2 Instance Types: Different families of instances for various workloads.
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Pricing Models: Different ways to pay for EC2 instances such as On-Demand and Reserved.
Examples & Applications
A web server application could use a General Purpose EC2 instance for balanced resources.
A financial modeling application could benefit from a Compute Optimized instance for intensive calculations.
Memory Aids
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Rhymes
When you need a cloud space, EC2's a great place!
Memory Tools
G-C-M-S-A for instance types: General, Compute, Memory, Storage, Accelerated.
Acronyms
POSS (Pricing Options
On-Demand
Spot
Savings Plans
Reserved).
Flash Cards
Glossary
- EC2 Instance
A virtual machine that runs in the AWS cloud and can be tailored with various resources.
- General Purpose
EC2 instance types offering balanced CPU, memory, and networking.
- Compute Optimized
Instances optimized for high CPU performance.
- Memory Optimized
Instances designed for high memory requirements.
- Spot Instances
Instances that allow you to bid for spare AWS capacity at lower prices.
- Reserved Instances
Instances that offer discounted pricing for a commitment to use the service for 1 or 3 years.
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