Jan 23, 2023

AWS Handbook
For Assessment Preparation and Learning

Index:

1. Part One:

1.1. Computer Components

1.1.1. Hardware
1.1.1.1. Motherboard
1.1.1.2. CPU
1.1.1.3. RAM
1.1.1.4. Storage Drive
1.1.1.5. NIC
1.1.2. Servers
1.1.3. Data Center
1.1.4. Software
1.1.4.1. OS
1.1.4.2. Apps
1.1.5. Microservices

1.2. Cloud Computing

1.2.1. What is Cloud Computing?
1.2.2. Types of clouds
1.2.2.1. Public
1.2.2.2. Private
1.2.2.3. Hybrid
1.2.3. Cloud Service Models
1.2.3.1. IaaS
1.2.3.2. PaaS
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1.2.3.3. Saas
1.2.4. Advantages of cloud computing

1.3. AWS
1.3.1. Global Infrastructure
1.3.2. Virtual Machines
1.3.3. Cloud Storage

1.4. Why Cloud?

1.4.1. Job Roles
1.4.2. AWS Certifications
1.4.3.
1.5. Assessment Process

Part Two (on hold):

● (Additional Info and knowledge about Cloud & AWS)
Cloud Infrastructure explained
Cloud models (Private, Public, Hybrid)
Cloud service models (Saas, Paas, Iaas)
● AWS Services basics (S3, EC2)
● Linux concept explained (No commands or complicated explanation)
● Networks (IP, Router, LAN/WAN)
Why we use cloud, What can we do with cloud
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Computer Components

Hardware

Motherboard:

A motherboard is the main circuit board in a computer that connects all the
different components together. It is often referred to as the "heart" of a
computer because it allows communication between the central processing
unit (CPU), memory, storage, and other peripherals.

The motherboard contains sockets and slots for the CPU, RAM, and other
components, as well as connectors for things like the power supply and
peripherals. It also contains the basic input/output system (BIOS) which is
firmware that controls how the computer starts up and interacts with the
other hardware. In short, the motherboard acts as a hub that connects all the
different parts of a computer together and allows them to communicate with
each other.

Summary
● Printed circuit board (PCB)
● Holds all of the core computer hardware components together
● It connects all the different components together and allows them to
communicate with each other
● It contains sockets and slots for the CPU, RAM, and other components,
as well as connectors for the power supply and peripherals
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● It also contains the basic input/output system (BIOS) which controls the
computer's start-up and hardware interactions
● It is often referred to as the "heart" of a computer.

Central processing unit (CPU):

A CPU, short for Central Processing Unit, is the primary component of a

computer that performs mathematical and logical operations, as well as
control and input/output operations. It runs the instructions it receives from
applications and the Operating System (OS) and can have multiple cores,
allowing a computer to run multiple processes simultaneously with greater
ease, increasing performance when multitasking or under the demands of
powerful apps and programs. It is also commonly referred to as the
processor.

Summary
● Runs the instructions that it receives from applications and the
Operating System (OS)
● Performs Mathematical and logical operations
● Controls input/output (I/O) operations
● Can have multiple cores, increasing performance
● Also called the processor
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Memory or Random Access Memory (RAM)

RAM, short for Random Access Memory, is a type of temporary storage that
holds program instructions and data for the CPU to run and use. The CPU
retrieves program instructions and stores program data from memory. Since
the storage is temporary, the data is lost when the computer is turned off.
Memory size is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB). One
megabyte (MB) is approximately one million bytes or characters. More
memory generally means faster performance as the CPU has more capacity
to store and quickly access the instructions and data it needs to run
programs and perform tasks.

Summary
● Temporary storage holds program instructions and data for the CPU to
run and use
● CPU retrieves program instructions and stores program data from
memory.
● CPU retrieves and stores program data in memory.
● Since the storage is temporary, the data is lost when the computer is
turned off.
● Memory size is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB).
● 1 megabyte (MB) ~ A million bytes or characters
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● More memory = Faster performance

Storage drive

A storage drive is an essential component of a computer that is used to store

and retrieve digital information such as program files, application data, and
user documents. There are two main types of storage drives that are
commonly used, which are Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and Solid State Drives
(SSD). The storage provided by these drives is persistent, meaning that the
data stored on them is not lost even when the computer is turned off. The
performance of a storage drive is measured by its data access speed, which
is measured in MB per second (MB/s) or number of I/O operations per second
(IOPS).

Summary
● Stores program files, application data, and user documents
● Two popular types of drives:
○ Hard disk drive (HDD)
○ Solid state drive (SSD)
● Drive storage is persistent. The data is preserved when the computer is
turned off.
● Drive performance is measured by its data access speed in MB per
second (MB/s) or number of 1/0 operations per second (IOPS)
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Network Interface Card

A Network Interface Card (NIC) is a hardware component that connects a

computer to a computer network and enables the computer to communicate
over that network. It allows the computer to connect to other devices on the
network, such as other computers, servers, and the internet. There are
different types of network cards available, including wired and wireless
options. The speed of a network card is measured in gigabits per second
(Gbps). It is also known as a network adapter.

A computer network is a group of two or more connected devices that can

communicate with each other. It allows for the sharing of resources such as
files, printers, and internet access, and enables communication between
devices. The most common types of computer networks are local area
networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs), which include the internet.

Summary
● Connects a computer to a computer network
● A computer network is a group of two or more connected devices that
can communicate with each other and share resources
● Enables a computer to communicate over a network, such as the
internet
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● Different types of network cards provide wired or wireless connection

options
● Speed of a network card is measured in gigabits per second (Gbps)
● Also called a network adapter

Servers

A server is a computer or system that is used to store and manage data, and
provide services to other computers or systems over a network. It is typically a
powerful and expensive computer that is designed to handle large amounts
of data and a high number of connections at the same time.

For example, when you visit a website, your computer sends a request to the
server that hosts the website, the server receives the request, and then sends
back the website's information to your computer so that it can display the
website on your browser.

In a more general sense, servers are responsible for providing services such
as storage, processing, and handling connections for other devices. They play
a critical role in networking and enable communication between different
devices.

There are different types of servers that perform different functions.

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An Application server is a server that is dedicated to running specific software

applications.
A Database server provides database services to other computer programs
or computers.
A Mail server handles transport of and access to email.
A DNS (Domain Name System) server manages the mapping of domain
names to IP addresses.
And a Web server handles HTTP connections and sends commands and
responses with data contents to clients.
Each type of server is designed to perform a specific task, and they work
together to make sure that the network runs smoothly and all the services are
provided to the clients.

Have a look inside a server (Servers vs Desktops PC):

What is a Server? Servers vs Desktops Explained

Summary
● A Server is a computer that stores, manages data, and provides
services over a network
● Powerful and expensive computer capable of handling large data and
many connections
● Hosts websites and processes requests to access them
● Provides services such as storage, processing, and connection handling
● Enables communication between devices through networking.
● Different types of servers like App, Database, Mail, DNS, and Web
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Data Center

A data center is a physical facility that organizations use to house computer

systems and related components, such as telecommunications and storage
systems. These facilities are designed to ensure that the computer systems
and data they contain are protected from environmental hazards and
unauthorized access. They typically include features like redundant power
supplies, multiple internet connections, temperature and humidity control,
and security measures to protect against fire and intrusion.

Data centers are used as the foundation for cloud computing, where they
store, manage and process large amounts of data that is critical to the
organization's operations and decision-making, as well as provide services to
other computers or systems over a network.
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This data can include financial data, client information, emails, and other
sensitive or confidential information. They also host websites, applications,
and other online services that are accessible to the public via cloud
computing.

Have a look inside a datacenter:

Inside Amazon's Massive Data Center

Summary
● A data center is a physical facility for housing computer systems and
related components
● Ensures safety and security of systems and data
● Essential for cloud computing, stores, manages and processes data
● Provides services like hosting websites and applications

Software:
Operating system (OS)

An operating system (OS) is the software that manages a computer's

hardware and software resources. It makes sure that all the different
programs and applications on a computer can work together and share the
same resources, like the central processing unit (CPU), memory, storage, and
network.
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The OS also provides the user interface, which is how the user interacts with
the computer. There are two main types of user interfaces: a command line
interface (CLI), where the user types in commands, and a graphical user
interface (GUI), where the user interacts with the computer using icons and
menus. Some examples of operating systems are Microsoft Windows, macOS,
Amazon Linux 2, iOS, and Google Android.

Summary
● An OS manages a computer's hardware and software
● Shares and coordinates the use of CPU, memory, storage, and network
by applications
● Provides the user interface
● Command line interface (CLI) - Using commands
● Graphical user interface (GUI) - Interact with icons menus
● Examples:
○ Microsoft Windows
○ macOS
○ Amazon Linux 2
○ iOS
○ Google Android

Operating Systems
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Linux Command Line Interface (CLI)

Windows Graphical User Interface (GUI)

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Application:

An application, also known as a software application or app, is a computer

program designed to perform a specific task or set of tasks. It is a collection of
instructions written in a programming language that runs on a computer and
can be used by individuals or businesses to complete various tasks, such as
word processing, data analysis, and online communication. Applications are
designed to make it easy for users to interact with and use a computer,
phone, or other electronic devices, by providing a graphical user interface
(GUI) that is easy to navigate and understand. They can range from simple
programs like a calculator to complex programs like video editing software.
Applications are often written in a specific programming language and can
be installed on a device or accessed through the internet Examples of
applications include web browsers, email clients, and games.

Summary
● An application is a computer program containing a set of instructions
that run on a computer to perform a specific task.
● Applications are written in a programming language and run on a
computer, phone, or other electronic device.
● Examples of applications include web browsers, email clients, and
games.
● Applications provide a graphical user interface (GUI) that is easy to
navigate and understand, making it easy for users to interact with the
device.
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Microservices
In software engineering, a microservice is a type of architecture for building
applications. It involves breaking an application into small, independent
services that communicate with each other over a network.

Each microservice is responsible for a specific function or feature of the

application, and it can be developed, tested, and deployed independently of
the other services.

One advantage of using microservices is that they can be scaled

independently, so if one service becomes popular and needs more resources,
it can be scaled up without affecting the other services. This makes
managing and maintaining the application easier, as changes to one service
do not require the entire application to be redeployed.

Additionally, microservices allow for more flexibility in the development

process, as different teams can work on different services
simultaneously.
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Summary:
● When an application is broken down into multiple smaller services
that interact with each other
● Each microservice can be managed and scaled on its own
● Each microservice has a specific function in making the
application work
● Allows deployment of a single service instead of the whole
application
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Cloud Computing

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is a way of using the internet to access shared computer
resources, such as servers, storage, and software applications, instead of
having them on your own computer or in-house servers.

It allows you to access and use these resources on demand, and pay only for
what you use, making it more cost-effective and flexible than maintaining
your own IT infrastructure. Users can provision and release resources on
demand.

Resources can be scaled up or down automatically, depending on the load.

Resources are accessible over a network with proper security. Cloud service
providers can enable a pay-as-you-go model, where customers are charged
based on the type of resources and per usage.

Summary
● Cloud computing allows access to shared computer resources via the
internet
● on-demand access and pay-as-you-go pricing model
● More cost-effective and flexible than maintaining own IT infrastructure
● Resources can be scaled automatically
● Proper security measures in place for accessing resources over the
network.
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Types of Clouds

There are three main types of cloud models: public, private, and hybrid.

Public Cloud: Public cloud services are provided by third-party companies,

such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud
Platform. These services are available to the general public over the internet,
and customers do not need to own or maintain any of the infrastructure.
Public cloud services are typically the most cost-effective and are suitable
for many types of workloads.

Private Cloud: Private cloud services are provided by a company for the
exclusive use of a single organization. The infrastructure is owned and
maintained by the organization, and it is not shared with any other
companies. Private clouds are typically more secure than public clouds and
are suitable for organizations that have strict compliance requirements.

Hybrid Cloud: A hybrid cloud is a combination of public and private clouds.

An organization can use the public cloud for non-sensitive workloads and
the private cloud for sensitive workloads. This allows the organization to take
advantage of the cost-effectiveness of the public cloud while still
maintaining control over their sensitive data.

Summary:

● Public cloud services are provided by third-party companies,

available to the general public over the internet, and customers do not
need to own or maintain any of the infrastructure.
● Private cloud services are provided by a company for the exclusive
use of a single organization and the infrastructure is owned and
maintained by the organization.
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● Hybrid cloud is a combination of public and private clouds, allowing

organizations to take advantage of the cost-effectiveness of the
public cloud while still maintaining control over their sensitive data.

Cloud Service Models

IaaS stands for Infrastructure as a Service, it's a cloud computing service that
allows customers to rent virtualized resources like servers, storage, and
networking on demand and pay only for what they use. Amazon Web Services
(AWS) is one example that provides these services so customers can use
them to build and run their own applications and services without investing in
physical infrastructure.

PaaS stands for Platform as a Service. It is a cloud computing service that

provides customers with a platform to develop, run, and manage applications
without the complexity of building and maintaining the underlying
infrastructure. PaaS typically includes services such as databases,
middleware, and development tools that can be easily accessed and
configured through a web interface or API.

An example of a PaaS provider is AWS Elastic Beanstalk. It is a fully managed

service that makes it easy to deploy, run, and scale web applications and
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services, without the need to provision and manage the underlying

infrastructure.

SaaS stands for Software as a Service. It is a cloud computing service that

allows customers to use software applications over the internet, without the
need to install and maintain the software on their own computers. SaaS is
typically delivered on a subscription basis and can be accessed from any
device with an internet connection.

An example of a SaaS provider is Salesforce, a customer relationship

management software that can be accessed over the internet. Customers
can use Salesforce to manage their contacts, sales, and customer service
without the need to install and maintain the software on their own computers.

Summary
IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) provides virtualized resources such as
servers, storage, and networking on demand.
PaaS (Platform as a Service) provides a platform to develop, run and manage
applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the
underlying infrastructure.
SaaS (Software as a Service) provides software applications over the internet
on a subscription basis and can be accessed from any device.
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Advantages of Cloud Computing

Cost-effective: Cloud computing allows companies to pay only for the

resources they need, when they need them, instead of having to invest in and
maintain expensive hardware and software. This can lead to significant cost
savings.

Scalability: Cloud services can be easily scaled up or down depending on a

company's changing needs, which helps to save money and resources.

Accessibility: Cloud computing services can be accessed from anywhere

with an internet connection, which allows employees to work remotely and
increases collaboration.
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Reliability: Cloud providers invest heavily in data centers and infrastructure,

which ensures that services are always available and reduces the risk of data
loss.

Security: Cloud providers typically have strong security measures in place to

protect data and minimize the risk of cyberattacks.

Flexibility: Cloud services can be adjusted to meet the specific needs of an

organization, which allows them to be more agile and adapt to change
quickly.

Innovation: Cloud providers are always updating their services and adding
new features, which allows companies to take advantage of the latest
technology without having to invest in it themselves.

Unlimited storage: Cloud storage solutions offer unlimited storage capacity

that can grow and expand as your data storage needs grow.

Cost-saving: By using Cloud resources, companies can save money on IT

infrastructure and maintenance costs.

Global scale: Cloud providers have data centers located all around the world,
which allows companies to easily expand their reach and provide services to
customers all over the world.

Summary
Cloud computing offers cost-effective solutions with the ability to pay only for
the resources you need, scalability, accessibility, reliability, security, flexibility,
and innovation. It also provides benefits like unlimited storage, cost-saving,
and global scale.
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AWS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a cloud computing platform that provides a
range of services and tools for building, deploying, and managing
applications in the cloud. It offers a variety of services, including storage,
computation, networking, and database services, as well as tools for machine
learning, analytics, and IoT (Internet of Things).

AWS is a pay-as-you-go service, meaning that you only pay for the resources
you use. This makes it a cost-effective solution for businesses, as it allows
them to scale their resources up or down as needed, without the need to
invest in expensive infrastructure.

One of the main advantages of using AWS is that it allows businesses to focus
on building and improving their applications, rather than worrying about the
underlying infrastructure. AWS takes care of the infrastructure, security, and
maintenance, freeing up businesses to innovate and grow.

Summary:
● AWS is a cloud service provider
● Manages the physical infrastructure
● Provides services to manage applications in the cloud
● Pay only for what you use

Global Infrastructure

AWS infrastructure is made up of geographical locations called regions, each

region contains multiple availability zones which are physically separate
locations within a region that are connected by low-latency links. These
availability zones are comprised of one or more data centers. Each data
center is equipped with redundant power supplies, cooling systems, and
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other features to ensure that the servers remain operational even in the event
of an emergency. The idea behind this infrastructure is to spread resources
across multiple availability zones, thus ensuring that applications and
services remain available even if one or more data centers experience an
outage.

Summary
● AWS infrastructure is made up of geographical locations called regions.
● Each region contains multiple availability zones. These are physically
separate locations within a region, connected by low-latency links.
● Each availability zone is made up of one or more data centers.
● Data centers have redundant power and cooling systems to ensure
server uptime during emergencies.
● Infrastructure is designed for availability during data center outages by
spreading resources across multiple availability zones.

https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/global-infrastructure/?nc1=h_ls
 Jan 23, 2023

Virtual Machines
A virtual machine (VM) is a software-based emulation of a computer system.
It allows you to run an operating system and applications as if they were
running on a physical computer, even if the physical hardware is different.

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) instances are virtual machines that run
in the AWS cloud. They are a type of compute resource that can be used to
host applications and services. EC2 instances can be easily created and
configured to meet the specific needs of an application, such as the required
amount of compute, memory, and storage resources.
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Summary:
● VM’s allows you to use computing resources that are physically
managed by AWS
● Like a computer with specific components that can be accessed
through the internet
● EC2 is a VM service offered by AWS
● Can run applications and services
● Can be configured to meet specific needs

Cloud Storage
Is a way to store data, such as documents, images, and videos, in a remote
location that can be accessed over the internet. It allows users to store their
data on a remote server, rather than on their local hard drive or other physical
storage media. This makes it easier to access the data from any device with
an internet connection, as well as to share the data with others.

Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) is a cloud storage service provided by

Amazon Web Services (AWS). It allows users to store and retrieve data from
anywhere on the web.

Summary:
● Used to store data
● Accessible over the internet
● S3 is a storage solution by AWS
● Data is stored on physical storage managed by AWS
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Why Cloud?

Job Roles
● Cloud Consultants are responsible for advising organizations on how to
best use cloud computing services and technologies to meet their
business objectives.

● Cloud Developers are responsible for developing, testing, and

deploying applications on cloud platforms. They typically have strong
coding skills and are familiar with cloud-native development tools and
frameworks.

● Cloud Engineers are responsible for designing, building, and

maintaining an organization's cloud infrastructure. They work to ensure
that the cloud environment is secure, reliable, and scalable.

● Cloud Support Engineers are responsible for providing technical

assistance to customers or internal teams who are using cloud
services. They troubleshoot and resolve issues related to cloud
infrastructure and applications.

● DevOps Engineers are responsible for the design and implementation

of processes and tools to automate the software development and
deployment process. They work closely with developers and operations
teams to ensure that software is delivered quickly and reliably.

AWS Certifications
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This course will prepare you for the entry certification of AWS. After obtaining
the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification, you have a foundational
understanding of the AWS platform and its core services, you can choose to
focus on obtaining one or more of the following certifications to expand your
knowledge and skills:

AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate: This certification is intended

for individuals who have experience designing and deploying systems on the
AWS platform, and covers topics such as network design, storage options,
and security best practices.

AWS Certified Developer - Associate: This certification is intended for

individuals who have experience developing and maintaining applications on
the AWS platform, and covers topics such as AWS Lambda, AWS Elastic
Beanstalk, and AWS DynamoDB.

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate: This certification is

intended for individuals who have experience managing and operating
systems on the AWS platform, and covers topics such as monitoring, scaling,
and backups.

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional: This certification is intended

for individuals who have experience with DevOps practices and AWS services,
and covers topics such as continuous integration and delivery, infrastructure
as code, and monitoring.

All of these certifications will help you demonstrate your knowledge and
proficiency in different areas of AWS and help you to develop new skills, and
gain more credibility in the Cloud industry. Once you have some experience
with the services, you can focus on the ones most relevant to your current or
desired job role.
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Keep in mind that AWS certifications can be used to demonstrate your

knowledge and skills but do not guarantee the job itself. It could be helpful to
have some hands-on experience with the services, and the more experience
you have, the better qualified you will be for specific jobs.

Assessment Process
In this assessment process, you will have the opportunity to showcase your
motivation and skills through a 30-minute interview and an 80-minute writing
task and test. The interview will be conducted through google meet, during
which your technical knowledge and motivation to learn cloud will be tested.
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After the interview, you will have 80 minutes to complete a motivational letter
and take a test designed by AWS. This test will assess your logical reasoning
skills. It is important to read the instructions carefully and follow them
precisely.

It's important to stay focused and motivated throughout the assessment to

provide the best representation of your abilities and motivation. Please take
time to understand the instructions and ask any questions before the
assessment begins.

After you complete the assessment, your representative at DCI will get in
touch with you to discuss further steps.

Summary
● 30 Minute interview
● 80 Minutes to complete a logical reasoning test by amazon and a
motivational letter
● Feedback from your contact person at DCI