Chapter 6. S3: cheap, fast file storage

As you saw way back in chapter 3, an EC2-based server’s core filesystem is kept on a relatively small Elastic Block Store (EBS) volume. In that case, the volume had only 8 GB to start with, which proved to be more than enough for the example WordPress site. But once they’re running in the real world, most applications—generating, as they often do, fast-growing databases, directories filled with videos, and reams of logs—require far more storage space than an 8 GB or even an 80 GB drive can provide.

Why didn’t we provision a larger EBS volume? Because, relatively speaking, doing so is expensive. A 100 GB general-purpose, solid state drive from EBS will cost you around $10 per month. If there’s a better ...

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