Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) is AWS’s primary web service that provides resizable compute capacity in the cloud. This service allows you to generate and manage virtual machines as per your needs. You can deliver the output of these VMs to end-users operating on various machines, including Windows, Linux, macOS, among others.
Example uses could include scaling up or down to handle changes in requirements or spikes in popularity, reducing your costs.
Amazon WorkSpaces
Amazon WorkSpaces is a managed and secure Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS). It allows you to easily provision virtual, cloud-based Microsoft Windows or Amazon Linux desktops for your users. With the help of the Amazon WorkSpaces client, end-users can connect to their personal virtual desktops. This service completely manages the compute, storage, and software applications, relieving businesses from the task of deploying and managing complex virtual desktop environments.
For instance, medical staff in a hospital can use WorkSpaces to access patient records on any device securely, including tablets, thin clients, and zero clients.
Amazon AppStream 2.0
Amazon AppStream 2.0 is a fully managed application streaming service that provides users instant access to their desktop applications from anywhere. It streams your applications from AWS to any device, eliminating the need to rewrite them for specific operating systems. Users can access the applications and files they need through a web browser.
An example would be a graphic design firm allowing their designers to use resource-intensive applications like Adobe Photoshop or AutoCAD on their personal computers and laptops.
AWS Elastic Beanstalk
AWS Elastic Beanstalk is an easy-to-use service for deploying and scaling web applications developed with Java, .NET, PHP, Node.js, Python, Ruby, Go, and Docker. You simply upload your code, and Elastic Beanstalk automatically handles deployment, from capacity provision, load balancing, and auto-scaling to application health monitoring.
For example, a startup can utilize this service to deploy their app without investing much in infrastructure management.
| Service | Ideal for | Supports |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon EC2 | Customizable, Scalable Virtual Machines | All |
| Amazon WorkSpaces | Virtual Desktops with Windows or Linux Operating System | Windows, Linux |
| Amazon AppStream 2.0 | Score Desktop Applications Anywhere | All |
| AWS Elastic Beanstalk | Deploying and Scaling Web Applications | Java, .NET, PHP, Node.js, Python, Ruby, Go, Docker |
AWS provides several options to present the output of virtual machines on end-user machines, each catering to unique needs. Amazon EC2 is best suited for developing scalable and customizable virtual machines. Amazon WorkSpaces is ideal for deploying virtual desktops, and AppStream 2.0 is perfect for delivering desktop applications anywhere. And if you need a service for deploying and scaling web applications, AWS Elastic Beanstalk is the answer.
While preparing for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) exam, understanding the core functions and ideal use-cases of these services can significantly improve the chance of scoring well.
Practice Test
True or False: AWS AppStream 0 is a service that streaming desktop applications from AWS to any device.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: AWS AppStream 0 is designed to deliver desktop applications as a streaming service to any device.
True or False: AWS EC2 is used to present the output of virtual machines on end-user machines.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: AWS EC2 is a web service that provides resizable compute capacity in the cloud. It is for deploying instances rather than presenting output on end-user machines.
Which of the following services can present the output of virtual machines on end-user machines? (Select all that apply)
- a. AWS AppStream 0
- b. AWS EC2
- c. AWS WorkSpaces
- d. AWS S3
Answer: a, c
Explanation: AWS AppStream 0 and AWS WorkSpaces can present the output of virtual machines on end-user machines.
True or False: AWS Lambda is used to present the output of virtual machines on end-user machines.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: AWS Lambda is a compute service that lets you run code without provisioning or managing servers.
Which AWS service allows you to access a virtual machine directly from your web browser?
- a. AWS S3
- b. AWS EC2
- c. AWS Workspace
- d. AWS AppStream 0
Answer: d. AWS AppStream 0
Explanation: AWS AppStream 0 allows end users to access their applications or workloads running in a VM directly from a web browser.
AWS WorkSpaces provides which of the following features? (Select all that apply)
- a. Secure Desktop-as-a-Service
- b. Streaming applications
- c. Managed, persistent desktops
- d. Streaming web videos
Answer: a, c
Explanation: AWS WorkSpaces provides secure Desktop-as-a-Service and managed, persistent desktops.
True or False: Amazon EC2 instances can be accessed directly and interactively like a desktop through AWS AppStream
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Amazon EC2 instances can’t be accessed interactively through AWS AppStream 0; it streams applications and not entire virtual machines.
True or False: AWS Direct Connect is used to present output from virtual machines to end-user machines.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: AWS Direct Connect is a cloud service solution that makes it easy to establish a dedicated network connection from your premises to AWS.
Which of the following services would you use to provide users with a virtual desktop in the AWS Cloud?
- a. AWS EC2
- b. AWS AppStream 0
- c. AWS WorkSpaces
- d. AWS S3
Answer: c. AWS WorkSpaces
Explanation: AWS WorkSpaces is a service that lets you provision virtual, cloud-based Microsoft Windows or Amazon Linux desktops for your users.
True or False: AWS WorkDocs allows users to securely access and share files, feedback, and documents.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: AWS WorkDocs is a fully managed, secure content creation, storage, and collaboration service. It allows users to securely access and share files, feedback, and documents.
Interview Questions
What AWS service can be used to present the output of virtual machines on end-user machines?
Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), which can be effectively used to present the output of virtual machines on end-user machines.
Can Amazon EC2 instances be used to host a virtual machine?
Yes, an Amazon EC2 instance can be thought of as a virtual machine that runs on the AWS Cloud. It provides scalable computing capacity.
Can you use Amazon WorkSpaces for accessing the output of virtual machines on end-user machines?
Yes, Amazon WorkSpaces is a managed, secure Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) that helps you deliver the output of Windows or Linux virtual machines to end-user machines.
What is necessary to provide secure access to a virtual machine’s output via the internet?
You can use Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) to provision a logically isolated section of AWS, or use AWS Direct Connect to establish a dedicated network connection from your premises to AWS.
How does AWS AppStream 2.0 aid with presenting the output of VMs on end-user devices?
AWS AppStream 2.0 allows you to stream your desktop applications from AWS to any device running a web browser, which essentially presents output from VMs to end-user devices.
Is it possible to monitor, manage, and optimize virtual machines on AWS?
Yes, AWS provides services like AWS CloudWatch and AWS Systems Manager for monitoring, managing, and optimizing your virtual machines.
How can AWS Elastic Load Balancing assist in presenting the output of VMs to end-users?
AWS Elastic Load Balancing automatically distributes incoming application traffic across multiple targets, such as Amazon EC2 instances. This distribution can help effectively present the output of multiple VMs to end-users.
Is the AWS Global Accelerator service useful for presenting the output of VMs on end-user machines?
Yes, AWS Global Accelerator is a network layer service that directs traffic to optimal endpoints over the AWS global network, improving the user experience.
Can the AWS Outposts service be used to extend VMs to end-users?
Yes, AWS Outposts enables you to run your applications on-premises for low latency and local data processing needs, which can assist in presenting VM content to end-users.
What AWS service can provide a single location to manage virtual machines?
AWS Systems Manager provides a unified interface for you to monitor and manage your EC2 instances and other AWS resources.
What AWS service allows you to build, run, and scale applications as virtual machines?
Amazon Elastic Beanstalk automatically handles the deployment, from capacity provisioning, load balancing, automatic scaling to application health monitoring, allowing you to run applications on virtual machines with ease.
Can you use Amazon S3 to store the output data of a virtual machine?
Yes, Amazon S3 can be used to store and retrieve any amount of data at any time, anywhere on the web, which includes data from the virtual machine.
Is it possible to share the output of a Virtual Machine with other AWS accounts?
Yes, you can create Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) and share them with other AWS accounts using Amazon EC2.
Can AWS Lambda run code in response to events such as changes to data in an Amazon S3 bucket, or an Amazon DynamoDB table?
Yes, AWS Lambda is designed to use event-driven computing to automatically run code in response to events.
Can AWS CodeCommit be used to store codes that generate the output on a virtual machine?
Yes, AWS CodeCommit is a fully-managed source control service that hosts secure Git-based repositories, which can be used to store and version your code that runs on a virtual machine.
extutorials.com