aws ec2 demo
AWS EC2 Demonstration: Components & Architecture Explained
Essential Takeaway: Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) consists of interconnected components that work together to provide scalable virtual computing in the cloud. Understanding these components—from AMIs and instance types to security groups and storage options—is crucial for building robust cloud architectures.
1. Core EC2 Components Overview
Amazon EC2 operates through several integrated components that form a complete virtual computing environment. Each component serves a specific purpose in the overall architecture, and understanding their relationships is fundamental to effective cloud deployment.
2. Instance Types & Families (2025 Update)
Instance Type Categories:
General Purpose (M8g, M7i, T4g)
Balanced CPU, memory, networking - AWS Graviton4/3 processors
Web servers, small databases, development environments
Standard
Compute Optimized (C7g, C6i)
High-performance processors for compute-heavy tasks
HPC, batch processing, game servers, scientific computing
Higher than general purpose
Memory Optimized (R6g, X2idn)
High RAM capacity with AWS Graviton2/3 processors
High-performance databases, in-memory analytics, SAP HANA
Premium for high memory
Storage Optimized (I4i, D3)
High-speed NVMe storage and disk throughput
Big data processing, data warehouses, log processing
Varies by storage performance
Accelerated Computing (P4, G5)
NVIDIA GPUs for AI/ML and graphics workloads
AI/ML training, deep learning, video transcoding
Premium for GPU acceleration
HPC Optimized (Hpc6id)
High memory bandwidth for HPC applications
Computational chemistry, genomics, financial modeling
Premium for specialized HPC
2025 Instance Updates:
M8g instances now feature AWS Graviton4 processors with enhanced price-performance
C8 series optimized for high-traffic e-commerce and real-time analytics
New R7 instances with DDR5 memory offering 50% more bandwidth than DDR4
Instance Naming Convention
EC2 instances follow a structured naming pattern: Family + Generation + Size
Example:
m7g.large= M-family, 7th generation, Graviton processor, large size
3. Storage Architecture Deep Dive
EBS (Elastic Block Store)
Persistent
High IOPS available
Root volumes, databases
Single AZ
Pay per GB/month
Instance Store
Ephemeral (Temporary)
Highest performance
Temporary data, caches
Instance-local
Included with instance
EFS (Elastic File System)
Persistent
Scalable
Shared file storage
Multi-AZ
Pay per GB + access
Amazon S3
Persistent
Object storage
Backup, static content
Global
Pay per GB stored
EBS Volume Types (2025)
gp3 (General Purpose SSD): Balanced performance, default choice for most workloads
io2 (Provisioned IOPS SSD): High-performance for I/O intensive applications
st1 (Throughput Optimized HDD): Big data and sequential workloads
sc1 (Cold HDD): Infrequently accessed data
4. Security Components
Security Groups
Security groups act as virtual firewalls controlling inbound and outbound traffic at the instance level. Key characteristics:
Stateful: Return traffic is automatically allowed
Default-deny: All inbound traffic blocked by default
Multiple groups: Up to 5 security groups per network interface
Real-world Demo Setup:
Key Pairs Authentication
EC2 uses public-key cryptography for secure access:
Public key: Stored on EC2 instance in
~/.ssh/authorized_keysPrivate key: Kept securely by user for SSH access
Windows instances: Private key used to decrypt administrator password
5. Amazon Machine Images (AMIs)
AMIs serve as templates containing everything needed to launch an instance.
AMI Components:
Root volume template: Operating system and pre-installed software
Launch permissions: Controls who can use the AMI
Block device mapping: Specifies storage volumes to attach
AMI Types (2025):
Public AMIs: AWS-provided, community, or marketplace AMIs
Private AMIs: Custom AMIs created from your instances
Shared AMIs: AMIs shared with specific AWS accounts
6. Advanced Features
Placement Groups
Control instance placement for performance optimization:
Cluster: Low-latency networking within single AZ for HPC
Partition: Spread across logical partitions for large distributed systems
Spread: Separate instances across distinct hardware to reduce failures
Launch Templates
Next-generation configuration templates replacing Launch Configurations:
Versioning support: Create multiple template versions
Mixed instance types: Support for multiple instance families
Advanced networking: Enhanced network configuration options
7. Monitoring with CloudWatch
EC2 integrates with CloudWatch for comprehensive monitoring.
Basic Metrics (5-minute intervals):
CPU Utilization, Network In/Out, Disk Read/Write Operations
Memory metrics require CloudWatch Agent installation
Enhanced Monitoring (1-minute intervals):
Additional cost but provides faster alerting capabilities
Custom metrics through CloudWatch Agent
8. Pricing Models Comparison
On-Demand
Pay per hour/second
No savings (baseline)
Variable workloads, testing
Always available
Reserved Instances
1-3 year commitment
Up to 72% savings
Steady-state usage
Capacity reservation
Spot Instances
Bid-based pricing
Up to 90% savings
Fault-tolerant, flexible apps
Can be terminated by AWS
Dedicated Hosts
Physical server rental
Up to 70% savings
Compliance, licensing
Dedicated hardware
9. Real-World Demo Scenarios
Scenario: Web Application Deployment
Scenario: High-Performance Computing Cluster
Scenario: Database Server with High Availability
10. Best Practices
Cost Optimization:
Start with t3.micro instances (Free Tier eligible) for learning
Use Spot instances for non-critical experiments (up to 90% savings)
Always stop instances when not in use to avoid charges
Security Hardening:
Never use default security groups in production
Implement least privilege principle in security group rules
Rotate key pairs regularly and use different keys for different environments
Performance Optimization:
Right-size instances based on actual usage patterns
Use appropriate storage types for specific workload requirements
Monitor with CloudWatch and set up alerts for resource utilization