Episode 8: EBS vs EFS vs S3: The Complete Storage Decision Guide | AWS Solutions Architect Prep
Notas do episódio
🎁 Free SAA-C03 cheat sheet for this series - link at the bottom.
EBS vs EFS vs S3 - The complete comparison! Which storage should you use? This 40-minute episode answers it definitively with decision frameworks, real architectures, and exam traps.
📦 THE THREE STORAGE TYPES
- Block (EBS): Virtual hard drive for ONE instance
- File (EFS): Shared network drive for MANY instances
- Object (S3): API-accessed unlimited storage
💾 EBS - 6 VOLUME TYPES
1. gp3 - Default choice: 3K IOPS, $0.08/GB
2. io2 Block Express - 256K IOPS! Databases
3. st1 - HDD for big data: 500 MB/s
4. sc1 - Cheapest option
CRITICAL: EBS is AZ-locked. Use snapshots to move across AZs. Only SSD can boot. Multi-Attach: max 16 instances, same AZ, io2 only.
📁 EFS - MULTI-AZ FILE SHARING
- Linux only (exam trap!)
- 3x more expensive than EBS (~$0.30/GB vs $0.08/GB)
- Works across multiple AZs
- Automatic scaling
- One Zone-IA: 90% savings for dev!
🔍 COMPARISON
- EBS: $0.08/GB, AZ-locked, one instance, high IOPS
- EFS: $0.30/GB, multi-AZ, many instances, Linux only
- S3: $0.023/GB, regional, infinite scale, HTTP API
DECISION FRAMEWORK:
✓ Choose EBS: Single instance, database, boot volume
✓ Choose EFS: Multiple instances, shared files, Linux
✓ Choose S3: Objects, HTTP access, infinite scale
🏗️ 5 REAL ARCHITECTURES
1. E-commerce: EBS for OS, EFS for shared images, S3 for uploads
2. WordPress: EFS for wp-content, all servers see uploads instantly
3. ML Training: S3 datasets → EBS io2 training → S3 models
4. Hybrid App: EBS OS, EFS config, Instance Store cache, S3 logs
5. Dev/Prod: One Zone-IA for dev (90% cheaper), Multi-AZ for prod
⚠️ 12 EXAM TRAPS
1. EBS is AZ-locked (snapshot to move)
2. EFS is Linux only (Windows = FSx)
3. S3 not mountable as file system
4. HDD cannot boot (only SSD)
5. Multi-Attach: max 16, same AZ, io2 only
6. EFS performance mode permanent
7. Delete on Termination (root deleted by default)
8. Snapshots during peak = bad performance
9. Instance Store vs EBS (ephemeral vs persistent)
10. EFS cost - use One Zone-IA for dev
11. S3 for DR backups (not Deep Archive - too slow)
12. S3 for static websites (not EBS)
Perfect for SAA-C03 exam prep and real-world architecture decisions!
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📚 FREE STUDY HELP FOR SAA-C03
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✅ Free cheat sheet pack - one page per exam domain, incl. S3 storage classes, EBS vs EFS & lifecycle rules. No catch.
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104 exam-style scenario questions that explain why the right answer is right AND why every wrong option is wrong - the fastest way to find your gaps before exam day. Works on your phone or laptop.
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#AWS #EBS #EFS #S3 #Storage #SolutionsArchitect #SAAC03 #CloudArchitecture #BlockStorage #FileStorage #ObjectStorage
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🔗 Resources: docs.aws.amazon.com/ebs | docs.aws.amazon.com/efs | docs.aws.amazon.com/s3
📱 Questions? Share your storage architecture challenges!