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AWScloud~5 mins

Cost optimization pillar in AWS - Commands & Configuration

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Introduction
Managing cloud costs is important to avoid paying more than needed. The cost optimization pillar helps you use resources efficiently and save money while keeping your applications running well.
When you want to reduce your monthly cloud bill without affecting performance
When you need to choose the right type of cloud resources for your workload
When you want to track and monitor your cloud spending regularly
When you want to automate turning off unused resources to save money
When you want to plan your cloud usage to avoid surprises in costs
Commands
This command fetches your AWS cost data for May 2024, showing how much you spent in total. It helps you understand your current spending.
Terminal
aws ce get-cost-and-usage --time-period Start=2024-05-01,End=2024-05-31 --granularity MONTHLY --metrics BlendedCost
Expected OutputExpected
{ "ResultsByTime": [ { "TimePeriod": { "Start": "2024-05-01", "End": "2024-05-31" }, "Total": { "BlendedCost": { "Amount": "123.45", "Unit": "USD" } } } ] }
→
--time-period - Specifies the date range for the cost data
→
--granularity - Sets the detail level of the cost data (DAILY, MONTHLY)
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--metrics - Chooses which cost metric to show
This command lists all running EC2 virtual machines. Knowing which instances run helps identify unused or oversized resources to save costs.
Terminal
aws ec2 describe-instances --filters Name=instance-state-name,Values=running
Expected OutputExpected
{ "Reservations": [ { "Instances": [ { "InstanceId": "i-0abcd1234efgh5678", "InstanceType": "t3.medium", "State": {"Name": "running"} } ] } ] }
→
--filters - Filters instances by their state to show only running ones
This command stops a running EC2 instance that is not needed right now, helping reduce costs by not paying for compute time when idle.
Terminal
aws ec2 stop-instances --instance-ids i-0abcd1234efgh5678
Expected OutputExpected
{ "StoppingInstances": [ { "InstanceId": "i-0abcd1234efgh5678", "CurrentState": {"Name": "stopping"}, "PreviousState": {"Name": "running"} } ] }
→
--instance-ids - Specifies which instance to stop
This command lists your S3 storage buckets. Reviewing storage helps find unused or large buckets that can be cleaned up to save storage costs.
Terminal
aws s3 ls
Expected OutputExpected
2024-05-15 10:00:00 my-app-logs 2024-05-15 10:05:00 my-backups 2024-05-15 10:10:00 my-temp-files
Key Concept

If you remember nothing else from this pattern, remember: regularly check your cloud usage and stop or resize resources you don't need to save money.

Common Mistakes
Ignoring unused resources that keep running
You keep paying for resources even when they are not used, wasting money
Regularly list running resources and stop or delete those not needed
Not monitoring cost data regularly
You miss spikes or unexpected charges that can grow your bill
Use cost reports and alerts to track spending every month
Choosing large instance types without checking workload needs
Oversized resources cost more but may not improve performance
Match instance size to actual workload requirements and adjust as needed
Summary
Use AWS Cost Explorer CLI to check your monthly cloud spending.
List running EC2 instances to find resources that can be stopped or resized.
Stop unused EC2 instances to reduce compute costs.
List S3 buckets to identify storage that can be cleaned up.

Practice

(1/5)
1. Which AWS tool helps you understand and analyze your cloud spending over time?
easy
A. EC2 Dashboard
B. CloudTrail
C. Cost Explorer
D. IAM

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify AWS tools for cost management

    Cost Explorer is designed to analyze and visualize AWS spending over time.

  2. Step 2: Compare other tools' purposes

    CloudTrail tracks API calls, EC2 Dashboard manages instances, IAM manages access, none focus on cost analysis.

  3. Final Answer:

    Cost Explorer -> Option C

  4. Quick Check:

    Cost analysis tool = Cost Explorer [OK]
Hint: Cost Explorer = spending analysis tool [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Confusing CloudTrail with cost tool
  • Thinking EC2 Dashboard shows costs
  • Mixing IAM with billing
2. Which of the following is the correct AWS pricing option to save costs for steady-state workloads?
easy
A. On-Demand Instances
B. Reserved Instances
C. Spot Instances
D. Dedicated Hosts

Solution

  1. Step 1: Understand pricing options

    Reserved Instances offer a discount for long-term, steady workloads by committing to usage.

  2. Step 2: Compare other options

    On-Demand is pay-as-you-go, Spot is for interruptible workloads, Dedicated Hosts are costly physical servers.

  3. Final Answer:

    Reserved Instances -> Option B

  4. Quick Check:

    Steady workload savings = Reserved Instances [OK]
Hint: Reserved = save on steady workloads [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Choosing On-Demand for savings
  • Using Spot for steady workloads
  • Confusing Dedicated Hosts with cost-saving
3. Consider this AWS Lambda function usage pattern: it runs 1000 times per day, each execution lasts 1 second, and uses 128 MB memory. Which change will reduce cost the most?
medium
A. Increase memory to 512 MB to reduce execution time
B. Decrease memory to 64 MB to save memory cost
C. Increase execution time to batch more work per run
D. Keep memory at 128 MB and reduce execution time by optimizing code

Solution

  1. Step 1: Understand Lambda cost factors

    Cost depends on memory size and execution duration multiplied by invocations.

  2. Step 2: Evaluate options

    Increasing memory may reduce time but might increase cost; decreasing memory may increase time; optimizing code reduces time without increasing memory.

  3. Final Answer:

    Keep memory at 128 MB and reduce execution time by optimizing code -> Option D

  4. Quick Check:

    Optimize code to reduce time = save cost [OK]
Hint: Lower execution time saves more than just lowering memory [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Assuming more memory always saves cost
  • Reducing memory without checking time
  • Increasing execution time to batch
4. You notice your AWS Trusted Advisor reports underutilized EC2 instances. What is the best immediate action to optimize cost?
medium
A. Resize instances to smaller types matching usage
B. Terminate the underutilized instances immediately
C. Ignore the report as it might be inaccurate
D. Switch all instances to Dedicated Hosts

Solution

  1. Step 1: Understand Trusted Advisor recommendations

    It flags underutilized instances to help reduce waste by resizing or terminating.

  2. Step 2: Choose best cost optimization action

    Resizing to smaller instances keeps service running but reduces cost; terminating immediately may disrupt service; ignoring wastes money; Dedicated Hosts are expensive.

  3. Final Answer:

    Resize instances to smaller types matching usage -> Option A

  4. Quick Check:

    Resize underutilized = save cost safely [OK]
Hint: Resize before terminating to avoid downtime [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Terminating without backup
  • Ignoring Trusted Advisor
  • Switching to costly Dedicated Hosts
5. A company wants to reduce AWS costs by automating resource scaling and tracking spending. Which combination of AWS services best supports this goal?
hard
A. AWS Auto Scaling + AWS Budgets + AWS Cost Explorer
B. AWS CloudTrail + AWS Config + AWS IAM
C. AWS Lambda + Amazon S3 + Amazon RDS
D. Amazon EC2 + AWS Trusted Advisor + AWS CloudWatch Logs

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify services for automated scaling

    AWS Auto Scaling automatically adjusts resource capacity based on demand.

  2. Step 2: Identify services for cost tracking

    AWS Budgets sets spending limits and alerts; Cost Explorer analyzes spending patterns.

  3. Step 3: Evaluate other options

    CloudTrail and Config track changes and security, not cost; Lambda, S3, RDS are compute/storage services; Trusted Advisor gives recommendations but not automation; CloudWatch Logs monitor logs.

  4. Final Answer:

    AWS Auto Scaling + AWS Budgets + AWS Cost Explorer -> Option A

  5. Quick Check:

    Auto scale + budgets + cost explorer = cost optimization [OK]
Hint: Auto Scaling + Budgets + Cost Explorer = automate cost control [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Confusing CloudTrail with cost tools
  • Choosing unrelated services
  • Ignoring automation tools
Recommended

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10 questions~5 mineasy hard