Questions:

Amazon Elastic Block Store

Amazon Elastic Block Store (Amazon EBS) provides block level storage volumes for use with EC2 instances. EBS volumes behave like raw, unformatted block devices. You can mount these volumes as devices on your instances. EBS volumes that are attached to an instance are exposed as storage volumes that persist independently from the life of the instance. You can create a file system on top of these volumes, or use them in any way you would use a block device (such as a hard drive). You can dynamically change the configuration of a volume attached to an instance.

We recommend Amazon EBS for data that must be quickly accessible and requires long-term persistence. EBS volumes are particularly well-suited for use as the primary storage for file systems, databases, or for any applications that require fine granular updates and access to raw, unformatted, block-level storage. Amazon EBS is well suited to both database-style applications that rely on random reads and writes, and to throughput-intensive applications that perform long, continuous reads and writes.

With Amazon EBS, you pay only for what you use. For more information about Amazon EBS pricing, see the Projecting Costs section of the Amazon Elastic Block Store page.

Explain in depth what AWS is?

AWS stands for Amazon Web Service. It is a group of remote computing services, which is also known as a cloud computing platform. This new dimension of cloud computing is also known as IAAS or infrastructure as a service.

What are the three varieties of cloud services?

The three different varieties of cloud services include:

·       Computing

·       Storage

·       Networking

Define Auto-scaling?

Auto-scaling is an activity that lets you dispatch advanced instances on demand. Moreover, auto-scaling helps you to increase or decrease resource capacity according to the application.

What do you mean by AMI?

AMI stands for Amazon Machine Image. It is a kind of template that provides you related information (an operating system, an application server, and applications) that is needed to launch the instance, which is indeed a copy of the AMI working as a virtual server in the cloud. With the help of different AMIs, you can easily launch instances.

Can you illustrate the relationship between an instance and AMI?

With the help of just a single AMI, you can launch multiple instances and that to even different types. At the same time, an instance type is characterized by the host computer’s hardware that is utilized for your instance. Each instance provides different computer and memory capabilities. Once the situation is launched, you will find it looking like a traditional host, and you can communicate with it as one would with any computer.

What does geo-targeting in CloudFront mean?

Suppose you want your business to produce and show personalized content to the audience based on their geographic location without making any changes to the URL, head straight to geo-targeting. Geo-targeting enables you to create customized content for the group of spectators of a specific geographical area, all by keeping their needs ahead.

What is AWS S3?

S3 stands for Simple Storage Service. AWS S3 can be utilized to store and get any amount of data at any time and the best part from anywhere on the web. The payment model for S3 is to pay as you go.

How can one send a request to Amazon S3?

You can send the request by utilizing the AWS SDK or REST API wrapper libraries

1.   AWS SDK

2.   REST API

 

What is a default storage class in S3?

The “standard frequency accessed” is the default storage class in S3.

What different storage classes accessible in Amazon S3?

Storage class that is accessible in Amazon S3 are:

·       Amazon S3 standard

·       Amazon S3 standard infrequent access

·       Amazon S3 reduced repetition storage

·       Amazon glacier

 

What are the ways to encipher the data in S3?

Three different methods will let you encipher the data in S3

 

·       Server-side encryption – C

·       Server-side encryption – S3

·       Server-side encryption – KMS

 

On what grounds the pricing policy of the S3 is decided?

Following factors are taken under consideration while deciding S3:

 

·       Transfer of data

·       Storage that is utilized

·       Number of requests made

·       Transfer acceleration

·       Storage management

What are the different types of routing policies that are available in Amazon route S3?

The various types of routing policies available are as follows:

1.   latency based

2.   Weighted

3.   Failover

4.   Simple

5.   Geolocation

 

What is the standard size of an S3 bucket?

The maximum size of an S3 bucket is five terabytes.

 

Is Amazon S3 an international service?

Yes, Definitely. Amazon S3 is an international service. Its main objective is to provide an object storage facility through the web interface, and it utilizes the Amazon scalable storage infrastructure to function its global network.

 

Block storage is a technology that stores data in fixed-sized blocks on storage devices or cloud-based environments¹²³⁴⁵. Each block has a unique address that is used by a management application to access and assemble data files⁴⁵. Block storage is favored for fast, efficient, and reliable data transportation and editing

 

 

What are the important differences between EBS and S3?

 

·       EBS is highly scalable, whereas S3 is less scalable.

·       EBS has blocked storage; on the other hand, S3 is object storage.

·       EBS works faster than S3, whereas S3 works slower than EBS.

·       The user can approach EBS only through the given EC2 instance, but S3 can be accessible by anyone. It is a public instance.

·       EBS supports the file system interface, whereas S3 supports the web interface.

scal·able - able to be scaled or climbed

 

 

What is the process to upgrade or downgrade a system that involves near-zero downtime?

With the help of these following steps, one can upgrade or downgrade a system with near-zero downtime:

·       Start EC2 console

·       Select the AMI operating system

·       Open an instance with a recent instance type

·       Install the updates

·       Install applications

·       Analyze the instance to check whether it is working

·       If working then expand the new instance and cover it up with the older one

·       After it is extended the system with near-zero downtime can be upgraded and downgraded

[ AMI – Amazon Machine Image ]

 

What all is included in AMI?

AMI includes the following:

·       A template for the root volume for the instance

·       Opening permission

·       A block mapping which helps to decide on the capacity to be attached when it gets launched.

 

 

Are there any tools or techniques available that will help one understand if you are paying more than you should be and how accurate it is?

With the help of these below-mentioned resources, you will know whether the amount you are paying for the resource is accurate or not:

·       Check the top services table: You will find this on the dashboard in the cost management console that will display the top five most used services. This will also demonstrate how much you are paying on the resources in question.

·       Cost explorer: With the help of cost explorer, you can see and check the usage cost for 13 months. Moreover, know the amount of the next three months too.

·       AWS budget: This lets you plan your budget efficiently. 

·       Cost allocation tags: Get to view that resource that has cost you more in a particular month. Moreover, organize and track your resource as well.

Apart from the console, is there any substitute tool available that will help me log into the cloud environment?

·       AWS CLI for Linux

·       Putty

·       AWS CLI for Windows

·       AWS CLI for Windows CMD

·       AWS SDK

·       Eclipse

 

Can you name some AWS services that are not region-specific?

·       IAM

·       Route 53

·       Web application firewall

·       CloudFront

 

Can you define EIP?

EIP stands for Elastic IP address. It is a static Ipv4 address that is provided by AWS to administer dynamic cloud computing services. 

 

VPC – Virtual Private Cloud

What is VPC?

VPC stands for Virtual Private cloud. VPC enables you to open AWS resources into the world of virtual networks. With its help, network configuration, as per the users’ business requirements, can be build-up and personalized.

 

ap·pre·hend - understand or perceive

 

Illustrate some security products and features that are available in VPC?

·       Security groups: This plays the role of the firewall for the EC2 instances and helps to control inbound and outbound traffic at the instance grade.

·       Network access control lists: This represents the role of the firewall for the subnets and helps control inbound and outbound traffic at the subnet grade.

·       Flow logs: Flow logs help apprehend incoming and the outbound traffic from the network interfaces in your VPC

 

 

How can an Amazon VPC be monitored?

One can control VPC by using the following:

·       CloudWatch and CloudWatch logs

·       VPC flow logs

 

How many subnets can one have as per VPC?

One can have up to 200 subnets per VPC

 

Provide the default table that we get when one sets up AWS VPC?

The list of default tables are as follows:

·       Network ACL

·       Security group

·       Route table

 

 

How can security to your VPC be controlled?

One can utilize security groups, network access controls (ACLs), and flow logs to administer your AWS VPC security.

 

Does the property of the broadcast or multicast be backed up by Amazon VPC?

No. As of now, Amazon VPI does not provide any support for broadcast or multicast process.

 

Explain the difference between a Domain and a Hosted Zone?

This is the frequently asked question.

Domain

A domain is a collection of data describing a self-contained administrative and technical unit. For example www.vinsys.com is a domain and a general DNS concept.

Hosted zone

A hosted zone is a container that holds information about how you want to route traffic on the internet for a specific domain. For example fls.vinsys.com is a hosted zone.

 

 

What are NAT gateways?

NAT stands for Network Address Translation. NAT enables instances to associate in a private subnet with the help of the internet and other AWS services. Furthermore, NAT prohibits the internet from having a connection with the instances.

 

How many buckets can be set-up in AWS by default?

You can build-up up to 100 buckets in each AWS account by default.

 

 

How is SSH agent forwarding set-up so that you do not have to copy the key every time you log in?

Here are the steps to achieve the set-up for this:

·      Go to PuTTY configuration

·      Log in to category SSH — Auth

·      Allow SSH agent forwarding to your instance.

 

 

Amazon EC2

What are the different varieties of EC2 instances based on their expenditure?

The three varieties of EC2 instances based on their cost are:

On-demand instance: This comes in a lesser amount but is not recommended for long term use.

Spot instance: This is not much expensive and can be purchased through bidding.

Reserved instance: This one is recommended for those who are planning to utilize an instance for a year or more.

 

What is the best security practice for Amazon EC2?

Go through the following steps for secure Amazon EC2 best practice:

·      Utilize AWS identity and access management to control access to your AWS resource.

·      Forbid access by enabling only trusted hosts or networks to access ports on your instance.

·      Analyze the rules in your security groups regularly.

·      Open only permission that you need

·      Stop passport login, for instance, opened from your AMI

 

 

What are the steps to configure CloudWatch to reclaim EC2 instance?

Here are the steps that will help you restore EC2 instance:

·      Set up an alarm with the help of Amazon CloudWatch

·      In the alarm, go to Define alert and go to the action tab

·      Select recover this instance option

 

What are the various types of AMI designs?

The types are

·      Completely baked AMI

·      Slightly baked AMI (JeOS AMI)

·      Hybrid AMI

 

How can a user gain access to a specific bucket?

One needs to cover the below-mentioned steps to gain access:

·      Classify your instances

·      Elaborate on how licensed users can administer the specific server

·      Lockdown your tags

·      Attach your policies to IAM users

 

 How can a current instance be added to a new Autoscaling group?

Have a look at the steps how you can add an existing instance to a new auto-scaling group:

·      Launch EC2 console

·      Under instances select your instance

·      Select the action, instance setting and attach to the auto-scaling group

·      Choose a new auto-scaling group

·      Adhere to this group to the instance

·      If needed edit the instance

·      After you are done, you can add the instance to a new auto-scaling group successfully.

 

What is SQS?

SQS stands for Simple Queue Service. SQS administers the message queue service. Either you can move the data or message from one application to another even though it is not in an active state. With the help of SQS, one can be sent between multiple services.

 

What are the types of queues in SQS?

There are two types of queues in SQS:

·      Standard Queues: This type of queue provides a limitless number of transactions per second. Standard Queue is a default queue type.

·      FIFO Queues: FIFO queues ensure that the order of messages is received and is strictly conserved in the precise order that they sent.

 

 

What are the different types of instances available?

Below we have mentioned the following types of instances that are available:

·      General-purpose

·      Storage optimize

·      Accelerated computing

·      Computer-optimized

·      Memory-optimized

 

What aspects need to be considered while migrating to Amazon Web Services?

Have a look at the aspects that need to be taken into consideration:

·      Operational amount

·      Workforce Capacity

·      Cost evasion

·      Operational facility

·      Business quickness

 

What are the components of an AWS CloudFormation template?

YAML or JSON are the two AWS Cloud formation templates that consist of five essential elements.

·      Template framework

·      Output values

·      Data tables

·      Resources

·      File format version

 

 

What are the key pairs in AWS?

Secure logs in information for your virtual machine are key pairs. To associate with the instances, you can utilize the key pairs, which consist of a public key and private key.

 

How many Elastic IPs are granted you to set up by AWS?

VPC Elastic IP addresses are granted for each AWS account.

 

What are the advantages of auto-scaling?

Here are the various advantages of auto-scaling:

·      Autoscaling provides fault tolerance

·      Provides much-improved availability

·      Better cost management policy.

 

How can old snapshots be auto-deleted?

Have a look at the steps to auto-delete old snapshots:

·      For best practices snapshots needs to be taken of EBS volumes on Amazon S3

·      AWS Ops automaton is utilized to handle all the snaps naturally

·      This lets you set up, copy and delete Amazon EBS snapshots.

 

 

What is baked AMI?

What is fault tolerance?

 

 

 

 

 

If an organization splits its workload between public cloud and private servers, what do you call this approach?

 

"This is a hybrid cloud approach to cloud management. Some organizations use this because it may improve their speed or operating costs. In this approach, it's essential that the two servers work seamlessly together."

 

 

Explain how to scale an AWS instance vertically.

"To vertically scale on AWS, start by creating a new, larger instance of AWS, then pause the existing one. Remove and discard the root EBS volume from the server. Then, pause the live instance to remove its existing root volume. After noting the ID number, put the root volume into the new server and restart."

 

In simple terms, explain the difference between vertical and horizontal scaling?

"To vertically scale on AWS, start by creating a new, larger instance of AWS, then pause the existing one. Remove and discard the root EBS volume from the server. Then, pause the live instance to remove its existing root volume. After noting the ID number, put the root volume into the new server and restart."

 

What functionality lets you terminate unhealthy instances and replace them with new ones?

Terminating unhealthy instances typically leads to better performance. An employer may ask this to ensure you know standard methods for improving performance. For this question, craft a logical, descriptive answer that includes the benefits of that function.

 

What skills are important for an AWS developer

"Essential skills for an AWS developer include C#, Java, Python, advanced computer networking skills, hardware troubleshooting skills, understanding of security features and skills gained from experience with AWS."

 

 

 

 

 

Describe a time you used auto scaling.

"As a developer, I designed and developed a web service with auto scaling. I noticed that traffic patterns on the website were highest between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. from Monday through Friday. Using auto scaling, I configured the service to support more users during peak hours. This resulted in better service delivery to all users."