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MODULE 2 - Amazon EC2: Fundamental Concepts

Overview​

This module introduces Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud), the most fundamental computing service of AWS. You will learn the essential concepts to understand how virtual machines operate in the cloud.

Theoretical Approach

EC2 cannot be fully simulated with LocalStack. This module is mainly theoretical with design and analysis exercises.

Learning Objectives​

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • Explain what Amazon EC2 is and its use cases
  • Understand the concept of Regions and Availability Zones
  • Identify the different instance types and their use cases
  • Understand the role of AMIs (Amazon Machine Images)
  • Explain how key pairs work
  • Configure Security Groups (concepts)
  • Analyze existing EC2 architectures

Weekly Content​

1. Introduction to EC2​

  • What is an EC2 instance?
  • The billing model
  • Instance lifecycle

2. Regions and Availability Zones​

  • AWS global organization
  • Choosing a region
  • High availability with AZs

3. AMI (Amazon Machine Images)​

  • What is an AMI?
  • Types of AMIs (AWS, Marketplace, Custom)
  • Create and share AMIs

4. Instance Types​

  • Instance families (T, M, C, R, etc.)
  • Sizes and performance
  • Choice according to use case

5. Authentication and Security​

  • SSH key pairs
  • Security Groups
  • Access to instances

Module Structure​

MODULE 2
├── Introduction to EC2
├── Regions and Availability Zones
├── AMI - Machine Images
├── Instance Types
├── Key Pairs and Authentication
├── Security Groups
├── Lab: EC2 Architecture Analysis
└── Validation Quiz

Estimated Duration​

ActivityDuration
Theory (reading)3 hours
Analysis exercises1.5 hours
Lab (diagrams)1 hour
Quiz and validation30 minutes
Total6 hours

Weekly Deliverables​

1. EC2 Architecture Diagram​

Create a diagram showing:

  • An AWS region with 2 AZs
  • An EC2 instance in each AZ
  • Appropriate Security Groups
  • Network connections

2. Instance Choice Table​

For 3 given scenarios, justify the choice:

  • Instance type
  • Region
  • AMI

Evaluation​

Type: Formative (0%)

  • Quiz on EC2 concepts
  • Verification of the architecture diagram
  • Justification of technical choices

Prerequisites​

  • MODULE 1 completed
  • Understanding of basic cloud concepts
  • Functional LocalStack environment (for future weeks)

Module Navigation​

  1. Introduction to EC2 - Basic concepts
  2. Regions and AZs - Global infrastructure
  3. AMI - Machine images
  4. Instance Types - Families and choices
  5. Authentication - Keys and access
  6. Security Groups - Firewall
  7. Validation Quiz - 30 questions to validate your knowledge
  8. Lab: EC2 Architecture - Practical exercise

Happy reading and learning!