AWS Fundamentals - The Basics You Need to Know
Pre-Lesson
Before you start building in the cloud, let’s quickly cover some AWS concepts you’ll see throughout this course. Don’t worry about memorizing everything - this page is here for reference whenever you need a refresher!
Think of this like: Learning a few key words before visiting a foreign country. You don’t need to be fluent, just familiar enough to get around.
Important: You do NOT need to memorize this information! Just read through it once so the terms won’t surprise you later. You can always come back here if you forget.
Table of contents
- AWS Fundamentals - The Basics You Need to Know
AWS Regions - Where Your Cloud Resources Live
The Concept
Think of AWS regions like international branches of a bank. Just as banks have branches in different cities around the world, AWS has data centers (called regions) spread globally.
What You Need to Know
- Regions are physical locations with data centers (Virginia, Oregon, Ireland, etc.)
- Each region has a code like
us-east-1(Virginia) oreu-west-1(Ireland) - We use
us-east-1in this course for consistency
Common Regions
| Region Code | Location | Remember As |
|---|---|---|
us-east-1 | Virginia, USA | The default, where most things start |
us-west-2 | Oregon, USA | The west coast option |
eu-west-1 | Ireland | The European option |
Why It Matters
- Speed: Resources closer to users = faster responses
- Pricing: Some regions cost more than others
- Laws: Some data must stay in certain countries
Bottom line: For now, just use us-east-1 (Virginia) for everything. You can explore other regions later!
Availability Zones - Backup Locations
The Concept
Think of availability zones like different buildings in a campus. If one building loses power, the others keep running.
What You Need to Know
- Each region has multiple zones (usually 3-6)
- Zones are labeled with letters:
us-east-1a,us-east-1b, etc. - AWS automatically spreads your resources across zones for safety
Why It Matters
Your cloud resources stay online even if one data center has problems. It’s automatic backup!
Bottom line: AWS handles this for you. Just know it exists for now.
AWS Console vs CLI vs Terraform
You’ll see three different ways to work with AWS in this course:
AWS Console (The Website)
- What it is: The visual interface at aws.amazon.com
- Like: Using Gmail in your browser
- Good for: Learning, exploring, one-time tasks
- In this course: We use it to check our work
AWS CLI (Command Line)
- What it is: Typing commands in terminal
- Like: Texting commands to AWS
- Good for: Quick tasks, scripts
- In this course: We rarely use it
Terraform (Infrastructure as Code)
- What it is: Writing configuration files
- Like: Writing a recipe that creates infrastructure
- Good for: Professional work, repeatability
- In this course: Our main tool!
Bottom line: We mainly use Terraform (professional way) and check results in the Console (visual way).
Resource Names and Tags
The Concept
Everything in AWS needs a name or ID to identify it. It’s like how every student has a student ID number.
What You Need to Know
- Resource IDs: AWS generates these (like
i-0123456789abcdef0) - Names: You create these (like “My Web Server”)
- Tags: Labels you add (like “Environment: Learning”)
Example
Instance ID: i-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8 (AWS creates this)
Name Tag: My-First-Server (You create this)
Other Tags: Owner=YourName (Optional labels)
Bottom line: Always name your resources! It makes finding them much easier.
The Free Tier - Learning Without Breaking the Bank
The Concept
AWS offers a “free tier” - like a free trial at a gym. You can use certain services for free within limits.
What You Need to Know
- Specific resource limits: Free for certain amounts each month
- First 12 months: Most free tier benefits last one year from account creation
- Stay within limits: Going over = charges
Free Tier Tips
- Look for “free tier eligible” labels
- Delete resources when done practicing
- Set up billing alerts (we covered this in account setup)
Bottom line: Choose free tier options and delete resources when done to stay free!
Security Groups - Your Cloud Firewall
The Concept
Security groups are like bouncers at a club. They decide who gets in and who doesn’t.
What You Need to Know
- They control what network traffic can reach your cloud resources
- Default = very restrictive (good for security)
- You’ll configure these when you create resources
Basic Rules
- Inbound: What can come IN to your resources
- Outbound: What can go OUT from your resources
- Ports: Like different doors (80 for web, 22 for remote access)
Bottom line: We’ll configure these when needed. For now, just know they protect your resources.
Resource IDs and Regions
The Concept
Everything in AWS lives in a specific region. When you create something, it exists only in that region - just like a physical building only exists in one city.
What You Need to Know
- Resources are region-specific: A resource in Virginia can’t be seen from Oregon
- IDs are unique per region: The same product has different IDs in different locations
- You must be in the right region: Always check your region in the AWS Console (top-right corner)
Think of It Like
- Physical stores: A Target in New York has different inventory than a Target in Los Angeles
- Phone numbers: Different area codes for different cities
- Local libraries: Your library card for New York won’t work in the Los Angeles library
Common “Wrong Region” Symptoms
- “Resource not found” errors
- Empty lists when you know you created something
- Different prices than expected
- Missing services or features
Bottom line: Always check you’re in us-east-1 (Virginia) for this course. It’s shown in the top-right of AWS Console!
Quick Reference Checklist
When working through the course, remember:
✅ Region: Always use us-east-1 (Virginia)
✅ Free Tier: Look for “free tier eligible” options
✅ Delete Resources: Clean up when done practicing
✅ Name Everything: Add name tags to identify your resources
✅ Check the Console: Verify your work visually
Don’t Worry!
Remember: You don’t need to memorize any of this! This page is here whenever you need a reminder. The important thing is to understand that these concepts exist.
As you work through the course, these terms will become familiar naturally. It’s like learning to drive - at first, everything seems complex, but with practice, it becomes second nature.
Ready to continue? Head back to your lesson and keep building!
Pro tip: Bookmark this page in your browser for quick reference!