Welcome to our complete guide on Amazon EC2 Storage. In this course, you will learn how to effectively manage and optimize your storage on Amazon Web Services (AWS). This includes a comprehensive overview of the main forms of EC2 storage offered by AWS, including Elastic Block Store (EBS), Elastic File System (EFS), and Amazon Machine Images (AMI).

The course starts with the foundations of AWS, where we demonstrate how to register an AWS account. Students also learn the basics of AWS billing, global vs. regional services, and AWS multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Once students are familiar with navigating the AWS dashboard, we dive into working with the EC2 service. Here we explore the core features of EC2 instances, along with instance deployment, instance administration, and security.

Students will learn how to create and deploy instances from Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) that are fully equipped with Elastic IP addresses, and remote access via terminal and PuTTY. We also cover a host of other integral concepts including IAM roles for EC2, Security Groups, and EC2 Instance Launch Templates.

After the EC2 section, we delve into AWS EC2 storage solutions. Here, we start with exploring the key differences between block, file, and object storage. From there, we take a deep dive into Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS). EBS is a block storage service provided by AWS which allows for the creation of virtual disks, called EBS volumes that can be attached to Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) instances.

These EBS volumes can be used as raw block devices, in order to store data, such as system files, application data, and virtual machine images. We will cover how to create, attach, and manage EBS volumes, as well as how to use EBS Snapshots to create point-in-time backups of your data.

From there, we explore Amazon Machine Images (AMIs), which are templates that contain the software configuration and data required to launch an EC2 instance. We will cover how to create and customize AMIs, as well as how to use the EC2 Image Builder to automate the creation of AMIs.

In the last section, we introduce students to the Elastic File System (EFS), which is a file storage service provided by AWS. EFS allows you to create a file system that can be accessed by multiple EC2 instances to store and share files across multiple availability zones. We will cover how to create and manage EFS file systems, as well as how to mount EFS file systems on your EC2 instances.

By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of the various storage options available on AWS, and you will be able to confidently choose the right storage solution for your needs.

You will also have the skills and knowledge to effectively manage and optimize your storage on AWS, ensuring that your data is safe, secure, and accessible.

If you’re excited about learning everything you need to know about AWS EC2 storage, hit the enroll button and let’s get started.

In the world of cloud computing and data storage, there are various technologies and services available to meet different storage requirements. Two fundamental storage concepts are block storage and object storage.

Understanding their characteristics, advantages, and use cases is crucial for businesses and individuals looking to leverage cloud storage solutions effectively.

Additionally, services such as Elastic Block Store (EBS), snapshots, Amazon Machine Images (AMIs), Image Builder, and Elastic File System (EFS) further enhance storage capabilities in cloud environments. In this article, we will delve into the details of block storage, object storage, and these essential storage-related services provided by cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS).

What is Block Storage?

Block storage is a type of storage that divides data into fixed-sized blocks, each with its unique address. These blocks can be individually accessed and managed. Block storage devices function at a low level, treating data as a series of blocks with no understanding of the underlying file system or file structure.

They provide a reliable and efficient method for storing and retrieving data. Block storage is commonly used in scenarios that require random access to data, such as hosting databases, running virtual machines (VMs), and managing enterprise-level applications.

Advantages and Use Cases of Block Storage

Reliable and High-Performance Storage:
- Block storage offers high data reliability due to its ability to implement redundancy and data protection mechanisms.
- It provides low-latency and high-speed access to data, making it suitable for applications that require quick response times.
Database Hosting and Virtual Machines:
- Block storage is ideal for hosting databases as it provides consistent performance and ensures data integrity.
- It allows for the creation and management of virtual machines, enabling organizations to run various operating systems and applications efficiently.
Data Replication and Disaster Recovery:
- Block storage supports features like data replication and snapshots, enabling organizations to create multiple copies of data for redundancy and disaster recovery purposes.
- It facilitates the quick restoration of data in the event of hardware failures or system crashes.

What is Object Storage?

Object storage is a storage architecture that organizes and manages data as discrete objects rather than blocks or files. Each object contains both data and metadata, making it self-describing and self-contained.

Object storage treats data as independent entities and provides a unique identifier for each object, allowing for easy retrieval and scalability. Object storage is widely used for storing unstructured data, such as multimedia files, documents, and backups.

Advantages and Use Cases of Object Storage

Scalable and Cost-Effective Storage:
- Object storage is highly scalable, allowing organizations to store vast amounts of data without worrying about traditional storage limitations.
- It offers cost-effective storage solutions as organizations only pay for the storage they consume.
Content Distribution and Backup Solutions:
- Object storage provides efficient content distribution capabilities, enabling organizations to deliver content to a global audience with low latency.
- It serves as an excellent backup solution, offering automatic replication and data durability to safeguard against data loss.
Big Data Analytics and Archiving:
- Object storage is well-suited for big data analytics, providing a scalable and flexible storage platform for analyzing large datasets.
- It serves as a reliable and long-term archiving solution, ensuring data preservation and accessibility over extended periods.

Elastic Block Store (EBS)

Elastic Block Store (EBS) is a block storage service offered by AWS. It provides persistent block-level storage volumes for use with Amazon EC2 instances. EBS volumes are highly available and reliable, offering consistent low-latency performance. AWS supports multiple types of EBS volumes, each optimized for different use cases and workloads.

Overview and Features

EBS volumes are highly flexible and allow for dynamic resizing, making it easy to meet changing storage requirements. They provide features such as point-in-time snapshots, encryption, and integration with other AWS services. With EBS, users can choose the appropriate volume type based on their application’s performance needs and cost considerations.

EBS Volume Types

AWS offers several EBS volume types, including General Purpose (SSD), Provisioned IOPS (SSD), Throughput Optimized HDD, Cold HDD, and Magnetic. Each volume type is designed to optimize for specific use cases and workloads. General Purpose (SSD) volumes, for example, provide a balance of price and performance, suitable for a wide range of applications.

Use Cases for EBS

EBS volumes find applications in various scenarios, such as:

Hosting databases and running enterprise applications that require low-latency access to data.
Storing application files, logs, and configurations.
Creating consistent backups and snapshots for data protection.
Enabling disaster recovery by replicating data across different Availability Zones.

Snapshots

Snapshots are point-in-time copies of EBS volumes or Amazon RDS databases. They capture the state and data of the volume at the time the snapshot is taken. Snapshots serve as a backup mechanism, allowing users to restore data in case of accidental deletion, hardware failures, or other data loss scenarios.

Definition and Purpose

A snapshot is a logical representation of an EBS volume at a specific point in time. It contains only the data that has changed since the last snapshot, minimizing storage costs. Snapshots provide data durability by storing copies of data in different Availability Zones.

Creating and Restoring Snapshots

Users can create snapshots manually or automate the process through AWS services like AWS Backup. Snapshots can be used to create new volumes, migrate data across regions, or restore data to a previous state. They offer a cost-effective way to protect critical data and ensureusiness continuity.

Use Cases for Snapshots

Snapshots are valuable in various scenarios, including:

Data backup and recovery for disaster preparedness.
Creating clones or copies of volumes for testing and development environments.
Archiving and long-term storage of data.
Facilitating data migration across regions or accounts.

Amazon Machine Images (AMIs)

Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) are pre-configured templates that contain the necessary information to launch instances in the AWS environment. An AMI includes the operating system, software applications, data, and configuration settings required to create a virtual server in the cloud.

Introduction and Functionality

AMIs provide a fast and reliable way to launch instances with specific configurations. They eliminate the need to install and configure software manually, enabling users to quickly set up environments for various applications.

Creating and Managing AMIs

Users can create custom AMIs from existing EC2 instances or choose from a wide range of pre-built AMIs provided by AWS and the AWS Marketplace. Once created, AMIs can be managed, shared, and used to launch instances across multiple regions, making it easier to deploy consistent environments.

Use Cases for AMIs

AMIs are widely used for different purposes, including:

Creating consistent and reproducible development and testing environments.
Deploying applications and services that require specific software configurations.
Scaling instances and auto-scaling groups efficiently.
Facilitating disaster recovery by launching instances from backed-up AMIs.

Image Builder

Image Builder is an AWS service that simplifies the creation, management, and deployment of customized Amazon Machine Images (AMIs). It provides an automated and scalable way to build secure and up-to-date images for use with EC2 instances.

Overview and Benefits

Image Builder streamlines the image creation process, reducing the need for manual intervention. It ensures that AMIs are compliant with security best practices and include the latest software patches and updates. Image Builder also enables users to customize AMIs based on specific requirements.

Building Custom Images

Using Image Builder, users can define their custom image recipes, which include the base OS, software components, and configurations. They can specify the desired security settings, compliance standards, and update frequency. Image Builder then automates the process of building, testing, and distributing the custom AMIs.

Use Cases for Image Builder

Image Builder finds applications in various scenarios, such as:

Creating standardized and secure AMIs for enterprise-wide deployment.
Ensuring compliance with security and governance requirements.
Automating the image creation process to improve operational efficiency.
Scaling and managing AMI fleets with consistent configurations.

Elastic File System (EFS)

Elastic File System (EFS) is a scalable and fully managed file storage service provided by AWS. EFS offers shared file storage for Amazon EC2 instances, enabling multiple instances to access and share files simultaneously.

Introduction and Features

EFS provides a simple and scalable file system for cloud workloads. It offers standard and Infrequent Access (IA) storage classes, allowing users to optimize cost and performance based on their application requirements. EFS automatically scales storage capacity and throughput as the number of files and file sizes grow.

File Storage and Sharing

EFS allows multiple EC2 instances to share a common file system, facilitating collaboration and data sharing. It supports standard file system operations, including file locking, concurrent access, and file permissions. EFS provides strong data consistency and durability, making it suitable for applications that require shared access to files.

Use Cases for EFS

EFS finds applications in various use cases, including:

Content management systems and web serving environments that require shared file access.
Big data analytics workloads that rely on shared file storage.
Containerized applications that need to share persistent storage.
Media and entertainment applications that require high-performance file access.

Conclusion

Block storage and object storage are essential concepts in cloud storage. Block storage provides reliable and high-performance storage for applications like databases and virtual machines, while object storage offers scalable and cost-effective storage for unstructured data.

Services like Elastic Block Store (EBS), snapshots, Amazon Machine Images (AMIs), Image Builder, and Elastic File System (EFS) further enhance storage capabilities in the cloud. Understanding the features, use cases, and benefits of these technologies empowers organizations to make informed decisions and optimize their cloud storage strategies.

FAQs

What is the difference between block storage and object storage?
- Block storage divides data into fixed-sized blocks and provides random access, while object storage treats data as independent objects with unique identifiers.
What are the advantages of using block storage?
- Block storage offers high reliability, low-latency access, and the ability to host databases and virtual machines effectively.
How can snapshots help with data protection?
- Snapshots capture the state of an EBS volume at a specific time, allowing users to restore data in case of accidental deletion or hardware failures.
What are AMIs, and how are they useful?
- AMIs are pre-configured templates that contain the necessary information to launch instances in the AWS environment, making it easy to set up application environments.
How does Image Builder simplify the creation of custom AMIs?
- Image Builder automates the process of building, testing, and distributing custom AMIs, ensuring compliance and the inclusion of the latest software updates.
What are the benefits of using Elastic File System (EFS)?
- EFS provides scalable and shared file storage, allowing multiple EC2 instances to access and share files simultaneously, making it suitable for collaborative workloads