Muhammad Sufiyan's Blog

Introduction to AWS and Cloud Computing

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Muhammad Sufiyan
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3 min read

Welcome back! In this session, we’ll dive into Amazon Web Services (AWS), the leading cloud computing platform, and why it’s pivotal in today’s tech landscape.

Why AWS?

Amazon started as a bookstore and grew into a massive global organization. To support its growth in products, locations, and customer demands, Amazon mastered server management for its retail platform. Eventually, they began offering these servers and services to the public as AWS.

With AWS, customers can:

  • Avoid purchasing and managing physical servers.

  • Pay only for what they use.

  • Scale services up or down as needed.

  • Leverage professionally managed infrastructure.

The AWS Free Tier

AWS encourages new users with a competitive Free Tier:

  • Access professional-grade services for free.

  • Some services are free for 12 months.

  • Others are always free.

You can explore the AWS Free Tier by visiting AWS Free Tier.

The AWS Management Console

Once you’ve created an AWS account, you’ll use the AWS Management Console as your dashboard to access and manage services. The console displays a comprehensive list of services, including:

Common AWS Services:

  1. EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud):

    • Virtualized cloud servers using similar technology to virtual machines.

    • Allows scalable and customizable server setups.

  2. Lambda:

    • Serverless computing platform.

    • Runs event-driven functions without managing underlying servers.

  3. S3 (Simple Storage Service):

    • Stores files as objects in a key-value system.

    • Files are accessible by their unique keys and stored securely in the cloud.

  4. Databases:

    • RDS (Relational Database Service): Supports relational databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL.

    • DynamoDB: A NoSQL database offering lightweight and scalable storage, comparable to MongoDB.

Exploring AWS Services

AWS’s extensive offerings may seem overwhelming, but it’s normal to work with only a subset of services based on your needs. For example:

  • Big organizations like Netflix leverage AWS’s robust capabilities.

  • You can begin with foundational services like EC2, S3, and Lambda to build your projects.

Take some time to explore the services in the console. Familiarity with the UI will help you navigate and manage services effectively.

AWS Regions and Data Centers

In the top-right corner of the console, you’ll notice a Region Selector. AWS operates data centers worldwide, grouped into regions. Selecting a region determines where your services and data are hosted.

Key Points about Regions:

  • Proximity: Hosting in a nearby region reduces latency. For instance, a server in Mumbai will respond faster for users in Hong Kong than those in California.

  • Configuration: Some services may not be available across regions by default. Stick to one region initially to avoid confusion.

Getting Started

By signing up for AWS and familiarizing yourself with its basic services, you’re already on your way to deploying your first application. Don’t be intimidated by the sheer number of services; focus on the essentials and gradually expand your knowledge.

Next Steps

With AWS ready, we’ll proceed to deploy our API using EC2 and other foundational services. Let’s get rolling!

AWSCloud Computing