Question

Difficulty: HardAWS Pricing Models

A biotechnology firm is deploying two new workloads on Amazon EC2:

1. A genomic sequencing data pipeline that processes large batches of data. The application is designed to be fault-tolerant, can pause and resume without data loss, and has a flexible completion window.
2. A database hosting experiment logs that must run continuously 24/7 with a highly predictable, steady-state CPU utilization for a project planned to last three years.

Which combination of Amazon EC2 pricing models will provide the most cost-effective solution for these workloads? (Select TWO.)

  1. Spot Instances for the genomic sequencing data pipelineAnswer
  2. Reserved Instances for the database workloadAnswer
  3. C
    On-Demand Instances for the database workload
  4. D
    Spot Instances for the database workload
  5. E
    Dedicated Hosts for the genomic sequencing data pipeline

Answer

Spot Instances for the genomic sequencing data pipeline and Reserved Instances for the database workload
For the genomic sequencing pipeline, Spot Instances are the most cost-effective choice because the application is fault-tolerant and has flexible timing, allowing it to leverage AWS spare capacity at a steep discount. For the experiment log database, Reserved Instances are the most cost-effective choice because the workload runs continuously 24/7 for a predictable three-year duration, allowing the company to commit to a specific configuration in exchange for a significant discount.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the requirements for the genomic sequencing data pipeline workload.
The pipeline is fault-tolerant, can pause/resume without data loss, and has a flexible completion window.
Identifying the workload's tolerance to interruptions and its flexible nature allows for selection of the lowest-cost compute pricing model.
2
Determine the optimal pricing model for the genomic sequencing data pipeline.
Spot Instances are the most cost-effective choice.
Spot Instances offer up to 90% savings compared to On-Demand instances and are ideal for workloads that can tolerate interruptions.
3
Analyze the requirements for the database hosting experiment logs.
The database must run continuously 24/7 with a highly predictable, steady-state CPU utilization for three years.
Identifying the long-term, stable, and non-interruptible nature of the database workload allows for commitment-based discounting.
4
Determine the optimal pricing model for the database workload.
Reserved Instances (or Savings Plans) are the most cost-effective choice.
Reserved Instances offer significant discounts (up to 72%) in exchange for a one-year or three-year commitment to a specific instance configuration, matching the steady-state database needs.

Key Concept

AWS EC2 pricing models selection based on workload characteristics (steady-state vs. fault-tolerant/batch).
Estimated Time:2m 30s
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