AWS VPC: A Virtual Private Cloud
AWS VPC: A Virtual Private Cloud
What is a VPC?
An Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) is a logically isolated section of the AWS cloud where you can launch AWS resources like EC2 instances, databases, and storage. It's essentially a private network within the AWS cloud that you have complete control over.
Key Components of a VPC:
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Subnet:
- A range of IP addresses within a VPC.
- Can be public or private.
- Public subnets allow instances to communicate directly with the internet.
- Private subnets are isolated from the public internet and typically used for internal services.
- A range of IP addresses within a VPC.
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Route Table:
- A set of rules that determines the path network traffic takes.
- It specifies the destination IP address range and the target gateway or instance.
- A set of rules that determines the path network traffic takes.
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Internet Gateway:
- A gateway device that enables instances within a public subnet to communicate with the internet.
- A gateway device that enables instances within a public subnet to communicate with the internet.
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Network Access Control Lists (NACLs):
- Security layer that filters traffic at the subnet level.
- Can be used to control inbound and outbound traffic based on IP address, port, and protocol.
- Security layer that filters traffic at the subnet level.
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Security Groups:
- Security layer that filters traffic at the instance level.
- Can be used to control inbound and outbound traffic based on port and protocol.
- Security layer that filters traffic at the instance level.
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Virtual Private Gateway (VPG):
- Enables you to establish site-to-site VPN connections between your on-premises network and your VPC.
- Enables you to establish site-to-site VPN connections between your on-premises network and your VPC.
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NAT Gateway:
- Enables instances in private subnets to access the internet without having public IP addresses.
- Enables instances in private subnets to access the internet without having public IP addresses.
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Elastic IP Address:
- A static IP address that can be associated with an instance or a Network Load Balancer.
- A static IP address that can be associated with an instance or a Network Load Balancer.
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VPC Peering:
- Allows you to connect two VPCs, enabling private communication between instances in different VPCs.
- Allows you to connect two VPCs, enabling private communication between instances in different VPCs.
Why Use a VPC?
- Enhanced Security: You can create highly secure environments by controlling network traffic and access.
- Scalability: You can easily scale your VPC to accommodate growing workloads.
- Flexibility: You can customize your VPC to meet your specific needs.
- Cost-Effectiveness: You can optimize resource utilization and reduce costs.
By understanding these core components and their interactions, you can effectively design and manage secure and scalable VPCs to meet your business requirements.