Choosing between the EC2 Instance Store and EBS

Summary

This lesson explores when to use EBS over instance store volumes and vice versa in AWS. It emphasizes EBS for persistent and resilient storage, while instance store volumes are suitable for high performance and cost-efficiency when data persistence is not a concern. The instructor covers various scenarios, performance levels, and specific use cases, highlighting the importance of understanding these differences for both AWS exams and real-world applications. Key performance metrics and storage types are discussed, including gp2, gp3, io1, io2, and the new io2 block express, with a focus on maximizing IOPS within EC2 instance capabilities.

Takeaways

• 📚 Default to EBS for persistent storage needs, as instance store volumes are not persistent and can be lost due to hardware failure, instance reboots, or maintenance.
• 🔒 Use EBS for storage that needs to be isolated from instance lifecycles, allowing for detaching and reattaching to different instances.
• 💡 In scenarios where resilience is needed but the application supports built-in replication, instance store volumes can be used for performance benefits without the risk of data loss.
• 🏎 For high performance needs, EBS and instance store volumes can both deliver, but for super high performance, instance store volumes are preferred.
• 💰 When cost is a primary concern, consider using instance store volumes as they are often included with the price of many EC2 instances.
• 📈 For cost efficacy, default to ST1 or SC1 for EBS volumes as they are cheaper mechanical storage options compared to SSD-based EBS volumes.
• 🚫 Avoid using ST1 or SC1 for boot volumes as they are not suitable for this purpose.
• 🔢 Performance levels for EBS volumes are categorized with gp2 and gp3 delivering up to 16,000 IOPS per volume, and io1 and io2 capable of up to 64,000 IOPS.
• 🌟 The new io2 block Express volume can deliver up to 256,000 IOPS per volume, but requires a large instance type to achieve this performance.
• 🔄 RAID configurations with EBS volumes can achieve combined performance up to 260,000 IOPS, which is the maximum possible per instance.
• 🚀 For applications requiring more than 260,000 IOPS and can tolerate non-persistent storage, instance store volumes can deliver much higher performance levels.

Q & A

What is the primary difference between EBS and instance store volumes in terms of persistence?

EBS provides persistent storage, meaning data is retained even if the instance fails or is terminated. In contrast, instance store volumes are not persistent; data can be lost due to hardware failure, instance rebooting, or maintenance that moves instances between hosts.

When should you default to using EBS instead of instance store volumes?

You should default to using EBS when you need persistent storage, as instance store volumes are not resilient and can lose data in case of hardware failure, instance rebooting, or maintenance.

What are some scenarios where EBS is more suitable than instance store volumes?

EBS is more suitable when you require resilient storage, need to isolate storage from instance life cycles, or when you want to attach a volume to one instance, unattach it, and then reattach it to another instance.

Can instance store volumes be used for high-performance needs?

Yes, instance store volumes can be used for high-performance needs, especially when paired with the correct instance type. They can deliver millions of IOPS, but it's important to remember that this storage is not persistent.

What is the maximum IOPS that can be achieved with EBS volumes?

The maximum IOPS that can be achieved with EBS volumes is 260,000 IOPS, which requires a large EC2 instance and enough EBS volumes to consume that entire capacity.

What are the performance levels of gp2 and gp3 EBS volumes?

Both gp2 and gp3 EBS volumes can deliver up to 16,000 IOPS per volume. gp2 performance is based on the volume size, while gp3 offers 3,000 IOPS by default with the option to pay for additional performance.

What EBS volume types should be considered for throughput or streaming needs?

For throughput or streaming needs, ST1 or SC1 should be considered as they are cheaper mechanical storage options compared to SSD-based EBS volumes.

Why might you choose instance store volumes over EBS volumes in certain scenarios?

You might choose instance store volumes over EBS volumes if cost is a primary concern, as instance store volumes are included with the price of many EC2 instances, or if your application supports built-in replication, allowing you to use the performance benefits of instance store volumes without the risk of data loss.

What is the new type of EBS volume that can deliver up to 256,000 IOPS per volume?

The new type of EBS volume that can deliver up to 256,000 IOPS per volume is known as io2 Block Express.

What is the maximum possible IOPS per instance when using a RAID 0 set of EBS volumes?

The maximum possible IOPS per instance when using a RAID 0 set of EBS volumes is 260,000 IOPS.

What should you remember for the exam regarding the use of EBS and instance store volumes?

For the exam, it's important to remember the scenarios where EBS is more suitable than instance store volumes, the performance levels of different EBS volume types, and the maximum IOPS achievable with EBS and instance store volumes.