Fargate vs EC2 launch type in AWS - Quick Revision & Key Differences

Recall & Review

beginner

What is AWS Fargate launch type?

AWS Fargate is a serverless compute engine for containers that lets you run containers without managing servers or clusters. You only pay for the resources your containers use.

beginner

What is the EC2 launch type in AWS ECS?

The EC2 launch type lets you run containers on a cluster of Amazon EC2 instances that you manage. You are responsible for provisioning and managing the servers.

beginner

Which launch type requires you to manage the underlying servers: Fargate or EC2?

The EC2 launch type requires you to manage the underlying servers, while Fargate handles the server management for you.

intermediate

What is a key cost difference between Fargate and EC2 launch types?

With Fargate, you pay only for the CPU and memory your containers use. With EC2, you pay for the EC2 instances regardless of container usage, which can be cheaper at scale but requires management.

intermediate

When might you choose EC2 launch type over Fargate?

You might choose EC2 if you want more control over the infrastructure, need custom AMIs, or want to optimize costs by managing instance types and scaling yourself.

Which AWS launch type lets you run containers without managing servers?

A Fargate

B EC2

C Lambda

D Elastic Beanstalk

Fargate is the serverless launch type that manages servers for you.

In the EC2 launch type, who is responsible for managing the servers?

A AWS manages servers

B You manage servers

C No servers are involved

D AWS and you share management

With EC2 launch type, you manage the underlying EC2 instances.

Which launch type typically requires more operational effort?

A Neither

B Fargate

C Both equal

D EC2

EC2 requires managing instances, patching, scaling, and capacity planning.

Which launch type charges you based on container resource usage only?

A Both

B EC2

C Fargate

D Neither

Fargate charges based on CPU and memory used by containers.

If you need custom AMIs or specific instance types, which launch type should you choose?

A EC2

B Fargate

C Lambda

D App Runner

EC2 launch type lets you customize instances with your own AMIs and types.

Explain the main differences between AWS Fargate and EC2 launch types.

Think about who manages the servers and how you pay.

Describe scenarios where choosing EC2 launch type is better than Fargate.

Consider when managing servers yourself is beneficial.