How to Add Storage to AWS EC2 Instance

Are you using an Amazon Web Services (AWS) EC2 instance and running out of storage space? Adding additional storage to your EC2 instance is a straightforward process that can help meet your growing storage requirements.

In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to add storage to your AWS EC2 instance, including the different types of storage available and how to configure them.

Introduction

AWS EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) is a scalable cloud computing service that allows users to deploy virtual servers and run applications on the cloud.

While EC2 instances come with predefined storage capacities, you may need to increase storage as your data grows.

Fortunately, AWS provides flexible storage options that can be easily added to your EC2 instance.

Understanding EC2

Before diving into storage options, let’s briefly overview EC2. EC2 instances are virtual servers that can be customized to meet your specific requirements.

Each instance has its own operating system, storage, and configuration. EC2 instances can be created, managed, and terminated through the AWS Management Console or programmatically using the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI).

Types of Storage

AWS offers two main types of storage for EC2 instances: Elastic Block Store (EBS) volumes and instance store volumes.

Understanding the differences between these storage types is essential to make an informed decision for your storage needs.

1. EBS Volumes

EBS volumes are block-level storage devices that can be attached to EC2 instances. They provide persistent storage that remains independent of the instance’s lifecycle.

EBS volumes offer various performance options, such as General Purpose SSD (gp2), Provisioned IOPS SSD (io1), and Throughput Optimized HDD (st1).

These options cater to different workload requirements, balancing cost and performance.

Creating EBS Volumes

To create an EBS volume, follow these steps:

• Navigate to the AWS Management Console and select the EC2 service.
• Go to the “Volumes” section and click “Create Volume.”
• Specify the volume size, type, and any additional configuration settings.
• Choose the availability zone where your EC2 instance is located.
• Click “Create Volume” to create the EBS volume.

Attaching EBS Volumes

Once you have created an EBS volume, please attach it to your EC2 instance. The following steps outline the process:

• Select the newly created EBS volume from the “Volumes” section in the AWS Management Console.
• Click on the “Actions” dropdown and choose “Attach Volume.”
• Select the desired EC2 instance from the dropdown list.
• Specify the device name for the volume attachment.
• Click “Attach” to attach the EBS volume to the EC2 instance.

Expanding EBS Volumes

Suppose you run out of storage space on an existing EBS volume. In that case, expanding the volume size is a viable solution. Here’s how you can expand an EBS volume:

• Stop the EC2 instance associated with the EBS volume.
• Select the EBS volume from the “Volumes” section in the AWS Management Console.
• Click on the “Actions” dropdown and choose “Modify Volume.” Increase the volume size to the desired capacity.
• Start the EC2 instance again, and the expanded volume will be available for use.

2. Instance Store Volumes

Instance store volumes, or ephemeral storage, are physically attached to the host machine where the EC2 instance is running.

Unlike EBS volumes, instance store volumes are temporary and do not persist if the instance is stopped or terminated. They offer high-performance storage that is ideal for applications requiring low-latency access.

Creating Instance Stores

To create an instance store volume, you need to follow these steps:

• Launch a new EC2 instance through the AWS Management Console or the CLI.
• Select an instance type that supports instance store volumes.
• Choose the appropriate instance store volume size based on your requirements.

Mounting Instance Stores

After creating an instance store volume, you need to mount it to your EC2 instance to start using it. Here’s how you can do it:

• Connect to your EC2 instance using SSH or any remote access method.
• Identify the device name of the instance store volume using the lsblk command.
• Create a file system on the instance store volume using the appropriate command (mkfs, mkfs. ext4, etc.).
• Create a mount point directory for the instance store volume.
• Mount the instance store volume to the specified mount point using the mount command.
• Verify the successful mount by listing the contents of the mount point directory.

Conclusion

Expanding the storage capacity of your AWS EC2 instance is crucial as your data grows. Understanding the available storage options, such as EBS and instance store volumes, empowers you to make informed decisions based on your specific requirements.

Following the outlined steps, you can easily add storage to your EC2 instance and ensure your applications have the necessary space to operate efficiently.

How to Add Storage to AWS EC2 Instance-FAQ