What is an instance in AWS?
An instance in Amazon web services (AWS) is a virtual server in the AWS cloud that can be used to replicate all the functions of a physical server. It can be used to carry out virtually every function that a physical server can perform. It is one of the core services that AWS offers.
An instance in Amazon is replicated from an Amazon Machine Image (AMI), which is essentially a soft master copy of a physical server.
It is also referred to as Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2). An instance in AWS is a type of Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS), because it provides standardized computing and networking resources on demand to its users. Developers can spin up many instances for the running and deployment of their applications. This means they can have many virtual servers available for their use.
An instance in AWS can be configured to the desired operating system, memory, CPU, and storage that a user needs. It relieves organizations and individuals of the burden of maintaining physical servers. This is all taken care of by Amazon's cloud network, which provides for much easier maintenance of applications for the users.
An analogy
The concept is similar to renting an already furnished office space from a property rental service, where we do not have to own the building but can simply pay for the size of the office space we need per time.
Companies such as Lyft, Salesforce, Netflix, and even Amazon's retail website are known to use Amazon instances as the host for storing and deploying some of their applications.
Use cases of Amazon instance (EC2)
Below are a couple of practical uses of an instance in AWS:
It serves as a suitable host environment for the deployment and testing of different software applications such as games and mobile apps.
It can be used to run multiple operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Debian.
Amazon EC2 serves as a great platform for hosting websites. It is used by companies such as Pinterest, Comcast, and Pfizer to host their websites.
It is a great platform for the storage of digital data files such as texts, videos, and code, which ensures that they are properly backed up.
Advantages of Amazon instance (EC2)
Amazon EC2 is used by many customers. This includes companies, software developers, cloud engineers, and a host of other professionals. Here are some of the reasons why it holds great appeal to many people.
Cost management
AWS instance service is offered on a pay-as-you-go basis. This means that the users only pay for what they use, when they use it, and for the exact capacity used. When they are done with the service, the virtual server can be deleted to avoid incurring any cost.
This provides users with a discounted rate for running their applications when compared to the cost of previously used on-site servers. It even has a tier-free option that beginners can explore at little to no cost.
High speed
Amazon instance is built on already programmed physical servers, which makes it easy to launch them within a few minutes. The users do not have as much infrastructure to manage as with on-site physical servers, and this speeds up the software development process of applications.
Auto-scaling
Amazon EC2 enables us to manage the configuration and number of servers we have without going through any laborious process. It can be customized to the user's preferred choice. The users can scale up or down within a few minutes based on their preference. An Amazon instance automatically decreases or increases the capacity of the instance in response to the occasional and temporary demand from the network.
Reliability
Amazon has its network infrastructure and data centers in different regions. Users can pick regions closest to where they reside to avoid latency. In the rare occurrence of server downtime, users can migrate to a more stable region. AWS EC2 instance has in-built support that provides the user's instance with quick recovery in the occurrence of a downtime failure.
In essence, an instance in AWS is a tool that provides its users with the possibility of all the features of a physical server at an enhanced rate and relieves them of the burden of responsibility that comes with personally owning a physical server.
