Amazon EC2

Definition

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) is a web service that provides resizable compute capacity in the cloud. It allows users to rent virtual servers to run applications, giving them flexibility and scalability without the need for physical hardware. This capability has transformed how businesses deploy and manage their applications, enabling rapid deployment and cost-effective scaling.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Amazon EC2 was launched in 2006 and quickly became one of the leading cloud computing services, enabling users to rent virtual servers for various applications.
2. EC2 allows users to choose from a wide range of instance types tailored for different workloads, from general-purpose applications to high-performance computing tasks.
3. Users can scale their capacity up or down based on demand, allowing for more efficient resource utilization and cost management.
4. With EC2's pay-as-you-go pricing model, businesses can avoid upfront costs associated with purchasing hardware, making it easier for startups and enterprises alike to manage expenses.
5. Amazon EC2 integrates seamlessly with other AWS services, such as Amazon S3 for storage and Amazon RDS for database management, enhancing its functionality and appeal.

Review Questions

• How does Amazon EC2 contribute to the evolution of operating systems by leveraging virtualization technology?
  • Amazon EC2 exemplifies the evolution of operating systems through its use of virtualization technology, allowing multiple virtual machines to operate on a single physical server. This capability enables efficient resource allocation and isolation between different applications. By abstracting the underlying hardware, EC2 offers users a flexible environment where they can easily deploy and manage applications without being constrained by physical infrastructure limitations.
• Discuss the impact of Amazon EC2's scalability features on modern application deployment strategies.
  • The scalability features of Amazon EC2 have significantly impacted modern application deployment strategies by allowing businesses to dynamically adjust their resources in response to user demand. Auto Scaling capabilities enable automatic adjustments of server instances, ensuring that applications maintain performance during peak usage times while minimizing costs during low demand. This level of flexibility helps companies optimize their infrastructure investments and improves overall system reliability.
• Evaluate how Amazon EC2 has reshaped traditional approaches to infrastructure management and what implications this has for future operating system development.
  • Amazon EC2 has reshaped traditional approaches to infrastructure management by moving from fixed physical servers to a flexible cloud-based model that emphasizes elasticity and cost efficiency. This shift challenges conventional operating system designs that prioritize static environments and dedicated hardware. As a result, future operating system development may focus more on cloud-native architectures that support rapid scaling, multi-tenancy, and integration with various cloud services, leading to more adaptable and resilient systems.

Related terms

Virtualization: A technology that allows multiple virtual instances of operating systems to run on a single physical server, optimizing resource usage.

Cloud Computing: The delivery of computing services over the internet, allowing users to access and store data and applications on remote servers rather than local devices.

Auto Scaling: A feature that automatically adjusts the number of active instances in response to changing demand, ensuring optimal resource allocation.