AWS Fargate – A Compute Engine for ECS and EKS

Containerization has transformed how businesses build, deploy, and manage applications, enabling faster development and scalability. With the rising demand for containerized applications, many container orchestration services require users to configure and manage clusters of virtual machines to run containers. This is where AWS Fargate comes into play.

In this article, we will explore AWS Fargate, a serverless computing platform designed to run containers without the need for managing underlying infrastructure. We will discuss its necessity, how it works, and conclude with a hands-on tutorial.

Naresh I Technologies is a leading computer training institute in Hyderabad and ranks among India's top five computer training institutes. We offer comprehensive AWS training, covering all AWS certifications. Contact us anytime to begin your AWS training journey.

Before the advent of container services, applications were deployed on virtual machines (VMs) using Amazon EC2 instances. Applications were packaged with an operating system into Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) and then executed on EC2 instances.

With the introduction of Docker containers, applications could be deployed without bundling an entire operating system, making them more efficient. Unlike VMs, containers share the host system's kernel while maintaining process isolation.

As container usage scaled, organizations started deploying them on EC2 instances, leading to increased management complexity. Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS) was introduced to simplify container orchestration, offering scalable and high-performance container management. However, users were still required to manage the EC2 instances hosting their containers.

To eliminate infrastructure management burdens, AWS introduced Fargate, a service that handles the provisioning, scaling, and management of compute resources for containers. With AWS Fargate, users can focus entirely on application development rather than infrastructure administration.

AWS Fargate is a compute engine for Amazon ECS and Amazon EKS that enables users to run containers without managing underlying virtual machines. With Fargate, there is no need to launch or maintain EC2 instances. Users simply specify CPU, memory, and IAM policies, and AWS Fargate takes care of scaling and resource allocation.

Fargate seamlessly integrates with ECS and EKS, automatically managing the underlying infrastructure and scaling applications based on demand.

Before diving into Fargate’s workflow, let's define key terms used in container management:

• Container: A standardized software unit that packages code, dependencies, and libraries necessary for application execution.

• Container Image: A read-only template, built using Docker files, that defines the components of a container. These images are stored in a registry for deployment.

• Task Definition: A JSON-formatted text file that outlines one or more containers that make up an application. It acts as a blueprint for deployment.

• Task: A running instance of a task definition within a cluster.

• Cluster: A logical grouping of resources required to run containerized applications. In Fargate, AWS manages the underlying infrastructure of clusters.

Deployment Process

1. Create a container image and store it in a registry such as Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR).

2. Select a container orchestration service, either Amazon ECS or Amazon EKS.

3. Define a cluster to group necessary resources.

4. Choose AWS Fargate as the launch type.

5. AWS Fargate provisions compute resources, scales applications, and manages the underlying infrastructure automatically.

Fargate ensures high availability, dynamically scales applications, and eliminates the need for users to manage virtual machines manually.

Follow these steps to deploy a simple web application using AWS Fargate on ECS:

Note: Ensure you are in an AWS region where Fargate is available, such as Northern Virginia (us-east-1).

Step 1: Open the ECS Console

• Navigate to the AWS ECS console and click on Get Started.

• Select Getting Started with Fargate.

Step 2: Define the Container

• Choose an existing container image or upload a custom one.

• If new to ECS, use preloaded container options.

Step 3: Create a Task Definition

• Choose the Fargate launch type.

• Set network mode to awsvpc.

• Define CPU and memory requirements.

• Create a new task execution role.

Step 4: Configure the Service

• Name the service and specify the desired number of tasks.

• Configure load balancing if required.

Step 5: Create the Cluster

• Assign a cluster name.

• AWS ECS manages networking and IAM configuration.

Step 6: Review and Launch

• Review all configurations and click Create to deploy the application.

Step 7: Access the Application

• Locate the IPv4 Public IP in the network settings.

• Enter the IP address in a web browser to view the deployed application.

Congratulations! You have successfully deployed a web application using AWS Fargate.

• Comprehensive AWS Training: Covering all AWS certifications.

• Flexible Learning Options: Both online and classroom training.

• Expert Trainers: Learn from AWS-certified professionals.

• Hands-On Experience: Gain practical skills through real-world projects.

• Affordable Pricing: Quality training at competitive rates.

• Job Assistance: Support in job placement and career growth.

• Personalized Counseling: Career guidance for AWS certifications.

Naresh I Technologies is a trusted name for AWS training in India and beyond. Contact us via phone or online, and our team will assist you with your AWS learning journey.