Understanding and managing different container services is a crucial aspect of AWS cloud services.
It’s particularly important for people preparing for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) exam to understand the appropriate use of different container options like Amazon ECS (Elastic Container Service) and Amazon EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service). Grasping their uses, differences, strengths, will enable you to make informed decisions about which service to use for optimal performance and cost management.
Introduction to Amazon ECS
Amazon ECS is a high-performance, highly scalable, and secure container management service that supports Docker containers. It allows you to run, stop, and manage Docker containers on a cluster. ECS eliminates the overhead of managing each of these tasks, allowing you to scale your applications and get more reservoirs of work done simultaneously.
Use case: Amazon ECS is best suited for simple applications that do not require advanced orchestration features. It’s also ideal for long-running applications, microservices, and batch jobs.
Introduction to Amazon EKS
Amazon EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service), on the other hand, is a managed container service to run and scale Kubernetes applications in the cloud or on-premises. EKS manages the Kubernetes control plane for each cluster, which consists of multiple AWS managed EC2 instances.
Use case: EKS is great for complex applications that have microservices running in multiple containers. It’s also designed for applications that require portability to operate in hybrid cloud environments.
| Amazon ECS | Amazon EKS | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A scalable, high-performance container management service | A fully managed Kubernetes service |
| Best for | Simple applications & long-running applications | Complex applications & applications requiring portability |
| Supported | Docker | Kubernetes |
| Limitations | Only works with AWS services | More complex to manage |
Choosing between ECS and EKS depends on the needs of your application and the environment you’re working with.
Using Amazon ECS
After you’ve set up your AWS account, you’ll create an ECS cluster in the AWS Management console. You’ll then define the task parameters in a file called task-definition.json. To run a task in ECS in your terminal, use the following command:
aws ecs run-task --cluster my-cluster --task-definition my-task-definition --launch-type FARGATE --network-configuration '{"awsvpcConfiguration":{"subnets":["subnet-071f712345678e7c8"],"securityGroups":["sg-075f7123456783a9e"],"assignPublicIp":"ENABLED"}}'
Using Amazon EKS
With Amazon EKS, you have to initially set up your Kubernetes cluster. Once it’s established, you use kubectl to deploy applications, scale applications, and manage the cluster.
If you’re using a single manifest file to deploy the application, you use the kubectl apply -f ./my-manifest.yaml command.
If you have multiple manifests in a directory, you use the kubectl apply -f ./directory/ command.
In conclusion, ECS is the right service for you if you’re looking for simplicity and deep integration with AWS services for your containerized applications.
On the other hand, EKS is perfect if you’re reliant on Kubernetes features for complex, multi-container applications or want the flexibility of moving your applications across environments. It’s crucial to make this decision based on your application’s and organization’s needs.
Practice Test
True or False: Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS) is for running Docker-enabled applications on EC2 instances while Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) is AWS’s managed service that makes it easy to run Kubernetes without managing the Kubernetes control plane.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Yes, ECS and EKS are designed for running Docker-enabled and Kubernetes applications respectively, with EKS providing a managed service for running Kubernetes.
True or False: Both Amazon ECS and EKS require manual configuration of control plane to manage containers.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: EKS is a fully managed service that does not require any manual management of the Kubernetes control plane. ECS, on the other hand, handles the underlying infrastructure, but it’s not fully managed—it still requires some configuration.
Which of the following are options for running applications on AWS using containers? (Choose Two)
- a. Amazon ECR
- b. Amazon ECS
- c. Amazon EKS
- d. Amazon RDS
Answer: b. Amazon ECS, c. Amazon EKS
Explanation: Amazon ECS (Elastic Container Service) and Amazon EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service) are both AWS managed services that help you run your containerized applications. Amazon ECR (Elastic Container Registry) is a fully-managed Docker container registry that makes it easy for developers to store, manage, and deploy Docker container images. Amazon RDS is not a container service, but a relational database service.
True or False: All user data stored in Amazon ECS and EKS is automatically encrypted at rest in the AWS Cloud.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: By default, user data is not encrypted in ECS and EKS. You can configure to encrypt your data at rest in the AWS Cloud by using AWS Key Management Service.
Which of the following AWS service is a fully managed container orchestration service?
- a. AWS Fargate
- b. Amazon ECS
- c. Amazon ECR
- d. Amazon EKS
Answer: d. Amazon EKS
Explanation: Amazon EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service) is a fully managed container orchestration service. ECS requires some level of management, while ECR is a registry service. AWS Fargate is a compute engine for Amazon ECS and EKS that allows you to run containers without having to manage infrastructure.
AWS Fargate is mostly used for:
- a. Running and scaling containers across multiple AZs
- b. Running containers without managing servers
- c. Encrypting container data
- d. Deploying applications without containers
Answer: b. Running containers without managing servers
Explanation: AWS Fargate is a compute engine for Amazon ECS and EKS that allows you to run containers without having to manage infrastructure.
In the AWS container service portfolio, _______ is a fully managed Docker container registry.
- a. AWS EC2
- b. Amazon ECR
- c. Amazon ECS
- d. Amazon EMR
Answer: b. Amazon ECR
Explanation: Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR) is a fully-managed Docker container registry where you can store, manage, and deploy Docker container images.
Amazon ECS and EKS are compatible with Fargate.
Answer: True
Explanation: AWS Fargate is a serverless compute engine compatible with both Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS) and Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS).
Amazon ECS lets developers build applications without considering the infrastructure.
Answer: False
Explanation: AWS Fargate, not ECS, allows developers to concentrate on building applications without having to worry about the infrastructure, as it manages the infrastructure required to run containers.
You cannot use Kubernetes on AWS without using Amazon EKS.
Answer: False
Explanation: You can manage your own Kubernetes clusters on AWS without using EKS, but EKS simplifies the process.
Interview Questions
What is Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS)?
Amazon ECS is a highly scalable, high-performance container orchestration service that supports Docker containers and allows you to easily run and scale containerized applications on AWS.
What is Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS)?
Amazon EKS is a managed service that makes it easy for you to run Kubernetes on AWS without needing to install, operate, and maintain your own Kubernetes control plane or nodes.
In what scenarios would you use Amazon ECS over Amazon EKS?
Amazon ECS is a good choice if you have a simple, homogenous application with minimal management overhead. It is tightly integrated with other AWS services and does not require a separate orchestrator.
In what scenarios would you use Amazon EKS over Amazon ECS?
Amazon EKS would be suitable for complex applications that require advanced traffic routing, scaling, and deployment patterns. It is ideal for running a Kubernetes-native application on AWS or on-premises.
How do Amazon ECS and Amazon EKS differ in terms of their management layer?
With Amazon ECS, the management layer is handled entirely by AWS and you only worry about the tasks, whereas with Amazon EKS, you have control over Kubernetes, which offers flexibility but also means you are responsible for managing the control plane.
What is the main benefit of using Amazon ECS?
Amazon ECS allows you to launch and stop Docker-enabled applications with simple API calls, select the CPU and memory for your containers, and benefit from native integration with other AWS services.
What is the main benefit of using Amazon EKS?
Amazon EKS runs the Kubernetes control plane across multiple AWS availability zones, automatically detects and replaces unhealthy control plane nodes, and provides on-demand, zero downtime upgrades and patching.
What are some of the AWS services integrated with Amazon ECS?
Amazon ECS is integrated with services like AWS Fargate, Amazon RDS, Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon SQS, and Amazon S3.
What are some of the AWS services integrated with Amazon EKS?
Amazon EKS is integrated with services like Amazon RDS, Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon SQS, Amazon S3, and Amazon EC2 for Kubernetes worker nodes.
Are both Amazon ECS and Amazon EKS compatible with Fargate?
Yes, both Amazon ECS and Amazon EKS provide Fargate launch type, which allows you to run your containers without having to manage the underlying infrastructure.
Does Amazon ECS support the Kubernetes API?
No, Amazon ECS has its own API and does not natively support the Kubernetes API. However, Amazon EKS fully supports it.
Can both Amazon ECS and Amazon EKS run in multiple regions?
Yes, both services can run in multiple regions to help ensure your application is highly available and fault tolerant.
Can you run both Amazon ECS and Amazon EKS in a VPC?
Yes, both services can be run within a Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) to provide isolation for your resources.
What role does IAM play in Amazon ECS and Amazon EKS?
AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) enables you to manage access to AWS services and resources securely. In both Amazon ECS and Amazon EKS, you use IAM to control who can create or delete clusters, launch or stop tasks, and perform other operations.
How is the pricing model different for Amazon ECS and Amazon EKS?
With Amazon ECS, you only pay for what you use, there is no minimum fee. However, with Amazon EKS, there is a $0.10 per hour fee for each Amazon EKS cluster that you create and you pay for AWS resources (e.g., EC2 instances or EBS volumes) you create to run your Kubernetes worker nodes.
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