An e-learning platform needs to run an application for 2 months each year. The application will be deployed on Amazon EC2 instances. Any application downtime during those 2 months must be avoided. Which EC2 purchasing option will meet these requirements MOST cost-effectively?
Select an option, then click Submit answer.
Reference / correct answer:
Most accepted answer: D. On-Demand Instances
Community votes: A=4, D=7
Selected Answer: D A. Reserved Instances (RIs): Reserved Instances provide capacity reservation for a specified term (usually one or three years), offering cost savings compared to On-Demand Instances. However, RIs may not be the most suitable for a short duration like 2 months, as they typically involve longer-term commitments. B. Dedicated Hosts: Dedicated Hosts may not be cost-effective for short-term workloads and lack the flexibility needed. C. Spot Instances: Spot Instances offer cost savings but can be terminated with short notice, potentially causing interruptions. D. On-Demand Instances: On-Demand Instances provide capacity on a pay-as-you-go basis with no upfront commitment. They are suitable for short-term, variable workloads, offering flexibility without the need for long-term commitments. In this scenario, On-Demand Instances would be a cost-effective option for the 2-month duration while avoiding downtime. upvoted 33 times
D - On-Demand Instances is correct. "On-Demand Instances are recommended for: • Users that prefer the low cost and flexibility of EC2 without any upfront payment or long-term commitment • Applications with short-term, spiky, or unpredictable workloads that cannot be interrupted • Applications being developed or tested on EC2 for the first time" Reference: https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/pricing/ upvoted 10 times
Selected Answer: D AWS EC2 Reserved Instances cannot be purchased directly from AWS for a 2-month term. AWS only offers Reserved Instances (RIs) in strict 1-year or 3-year commitments. So, On demand is the correct one upvoted 1 times
Selected Answer: A The application: Runs for 2 months each year. Cannot tolerate downtime. Needs the most cost-effective EC2 purchasing option. upvoted 1 times
Selected Answer: A The most cost-effective EC2 purchasing option for a workload that requires zero downtime but runs only for 2 months each year is Reserved Instances (A). While On-Demand Instances provide high flexibility, purchasing 1-year or 3-year standard Reserved Instances offers significant discounts—up to 72% over on-demand prices—that still outweigh the costs of paying for unused months in this scenario. upvoted 2 times