CloudFront is a CDN (Content Delivery Network). It retrieves data from Amazon S3 bucket and distributes it to multiple datacenter locations. It delivers the data through a network of data centers called edge locations. The nearest edge location is routed when the user requests for data, resulting in lowest latency, low network traffic, fast access to data, etc.

AWS CloudFront delivers the content in the following steps.

Step 1 − The user accesses a website and requests an object to download like an image file.
Step 2 − DNS routes your request to the nearest CloudFront edge location to serve the user request.
Step 3 − At edge location, CloudFront checks its cache for the requested files. If found, then returns it to the user otherwise does the following −

First CloudFront compares the request with the specifications and forwards it to the applicable origin server for the corresponding file type.
The origin servers send the files back to the CloudFront edge location.
As soon as the first byte arrives from the origin, CloudFront starts forwarding it to the user and adds the files to the cache in the edge location for the next time when someone again requests for the same file.

Step 4 − The object is now in an edge cache for 24 hours or for the provided duration in file headers. CloudFront does the following −

CloudFront forwards the next request for the object to the user’s origin to check the edge location version is updated or not.
If the edge location version is updated, then CloudFront delivers it to the user.
If the edge location version is not updated, then origin sends the latest version to CloudFront. CloudFront delivers the object to the user and stores the latest version in the cache at that edge location.

Features of CloudFront

Fast − The broad network of edge locations and CloudFront caches copies of content close to the end users that results in lowering latency, high data transfer rates and low network traffic. All these make CloudFront fast.
Simple − It is easy to use.
Can be used with other AWS Services − Amazon CloudFront is designed in such a way that it can be easily integrated with other AWS services, like Amazon S3, Amazon EC2.
Cost-effective − Using Amazon CloudFront, we pay only for the content that you deliver through the network, without any hidden charges and no up-front fees.
Elastic − Using Amazon CloudFront, we need not worry about maintenance. The service automatically responds if any action is needed, in case the demand increases or decreases.
Reliable − Amazon CloudFront is built on Amazon’s highly reliable infrastructure, i.e. its edge locations will automatically re-route the end users to the next nearest location, if required in some situations.
Global − Amazon CloudFront uses a global network of edge locations located in most of the regions.

How to Set Up AWS CloudFront?

AWS CloudFront can be set up using the following steps.
Step 1 − Sign in to AWS management console using the following link − https://console.aws.amazon.com/
Step 2 − Upload Amazon S3 and choose every permission public. (How to upload content to S3 bucket is discussed in chapter 14)
Step 3 − Create a CloudFront Web Distribution using the following steps.

Open CloudFront console using the following link − https://console.aws.amazon.com/cloudfront/
Click the Get Started button in the web section of Select a delivery method for your content page.

ac1

Create Distribution page opens. Choose the Amazon S3 bucket created in the Origin Domain Name and leave the remaining fields as default.

ac2

Default Cache Behavior Settings page opens. Keep the values as default and move to the next page.
A Distribution settings page opens. Fill the details as per your requirement and click the Create Distribution button.
The Status column changes from In Progress to Deployed. Enable your distribution by selecting the Enable option. It will take around 15 minutes for the domain name to be available in the Distributions list.

Test the Links

After creating distribution, CloudFront knows the location of Amazon S3 server and the user knows the domain name associated with the distribution. However, we can also create a link to Amazon S3 bucket content with that domain name and have CloudFront serve it. This helps save a lot of time.

Following are the steps to link an object −

Step 1 − Copy the following HTML code to a new file and write the domain-name that CloudFront assigned to the distribution in the place of domain name. Write a file name of Amazon S3 bucket in the place of object-name.

<html>
   <head>CloudFront Testing link</head>
   <body>
      <p>My Cludfront.</p>
      <p><img src = "http://domain-name/object-name" alt = "test image"/>
   </body>
</html>

Step 2 − Save the text in a file with .html extension.
Step 3 − Open the web page in a browser to test the links to see if they are working correctly. If not, then crosscheck the settings.

So, this brings us to the end of blog. This Tecklearn ‘How AWS CloudFront Delivers the Content’ helps you with commonly asked questions if you are looking out for a job in AWS and Cloud Computing. If you wish to learn AWS and build a career in Cloud Computing domain, then check out our interactive, AWS Solutions Architect Training, that comes with 24*7 support to guide you throughout your learning period. Please find the link for course details:

https://www.tecklearn.com/course/aws-solutions-architect-certification-training/

AWS Solutions Architect Certification Training

About the Course

Tecklearn’s AWS Architect Certification Training is curated by industry professionals as per the industry requirements and demands. The entire AWS training course is in line with the AWS Certified Solutions Architect exam. You will learn various aspects of AWS like Elastic Cloud Compute, Simple Storage Service, Virtual Private Cloud, Aurora database service, Load Balancing, Auto Scaling and more by working on hands-on projects and case studies. You will master AWS architectural principles and services such as IAM, VPC, EC2, EBS and elevate your career to the cloud, and beyond with this AWS solutions architect course.

Why Should you take AWS Architect Certification Training?

The Average salary of an AWS Certified Solutions Architect is $129k per annum – Indeed.com
AWS market is expected to reach $236 Billion by 2020 at a CAGR of 22% – Forrester
Netflix, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, BBC, Baidu, ESPN & other MNCs worldwide use Amazon AWS Cloud

What you will Learn in this Course?

Overview of Cloud Computing and AWS

What is Cloud Computing
Definition of Cloud Computing
On Premises Vs Service Models
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud Computing
Cloud Computing Providers
Why AWS
What is AWS
AWS Benefits
AWS Services
Traditional Vs AWS Components
AWS Global Infrastructure
AWS Availability Zone
AWS Edge Locations
How to Access the AWS Services
AWS architecture
AWS Management Console
AWS offerings Listing (EC2, VPC, AMI, EBS, ELB, Backup)

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2)

Overview of EC2
Elastic IP Vs Public IP
Launching of AWS EC2 instance demo
How to access EC2
EC2 Purchasing Options
Amazon Machine Images (AMI)
EC2 Storage for the Root Device
EC2 Creating AMI
EC2 Instance Types
Auto Scaling
Cost of EC2
Best Practices of EC2
EC2 Resizing
Placement Groups
Amazon Backup and various Concepts
EC2 Demo
Hands On

Networking and Monitoring Services: Amazon Virtual Public Cloud

Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) and its benefits
Default and Non-Default VPC
IP Address
CIDR – Classless Inter-domain Routing
Subnet: Subnet Mask and Subnet Mask Classes
Private and Public Subnet
IPv4 v/s IPv6 – As in AWS Infrastructure
Internet Gateway and Route Tables
Security Group with VPC
Access Control List, NACL and Security Group
NAT Devices: NAT Gateway and NAT Instance
Flow Logs
VPC Peering and its working
VPN and Direct Connect
VPC Limitations
Need for Monitoring Services
AWS CloudWatch and it’s working
AWS Command Line Interface
Use Cases
Hands On

Amazon Storage Services: Elastic Block Storage

What is Storage Services
What is Elastic Block Storage (EBS)
Persistent Storage
EBC Features
EBS Benefits
EBS Types
EBS Pricing
EBS Life Cycle
EBS Snapshot
EBS General Purposed SSD
EBS Provisioned IOPS SSD
EBS Throughput Optimized HDD
EBS Cold HDD
EBS Comparison
EBS Previous Generation Volumes
EBS How Incremental Snapshots Work
EBS Deleting an Amazon EBS Snapshot
EBS Summary
Hands On

Amazon Storage Services: Simple Storage Services (S3)

What is Amazon AWS S3
Simple Storage Services (S3) Advantages
S3 Buckets, Objects, Keys and Endpoints
S3 Data Consistency Model
S3 Transfer Acceleration
S3 Storage Types
S3 Versioning
S3 Life Cycle Management
S3 Data Protection
S3 Cross-Region Replication
S3 Hosting a Static Website
Hands On

Amazon Storage Services

Amazon Glacier Storage
Amazon Storage Gateway
Amazon Snowball (Data Import /Export)
Billing with Amazon CloudWatch
Hands On

AWS Database Services: Relational Database Service (RDS)

Overview of Databases and Relational Database Service (RDS)
What is Amazon RDS
AWS RDS Components
AWS RDS: Interface
AWS RDS: Charges
AWS RDS Multi-AZ: Benefits
AWS RDS Multi-AZ: Failover Process
NoSQL Database: Amazon DynamoDB
Overview of DynamoDB
DynamoDB Benefits
Hands On

AWS Database Services Continued

Data Warehouse: Amazon Redshift
Overview of Amazon Redshift
Redshift Architecture
Amazon Redshift features
In Memory Cache: Amazon ElasticCache
Redis Vs MemCache
Amazon ElasticCache Cluster
Database Migration: AWS Database Migration Service

Load Balancing in AWS

What is Fault Tolerant System
Features of Elastic Load Balancing
What is AWS ELB (Elastic Load Balancer)
Types of Load Balancer: Classic, Application and Network
Classic Load Balancer: Features, Health Check Configuration, Cross-Zone, Connection Draining, Sticky Sessions, Access Logs, Limitation
Application Load Balancer: Features, Application Flow, Limitation
Network Load Balancer
Access Elastic Load Balancing: AWS Management Console, AWS CLI, AWS SDKs, HTTPS Query API

Amazon Route 53

What is Amazon Route 53
Domain Name Registration
Routing Internet Traffic to Resources
Automated check of the health of Resources + Data Pipeline

AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) – Control user access

Authentication (Who can use) and Authorization (Level of Access)
IAM Policies – JSON Structure
Users, Groups and their Roles
AWS IAM Features
User Sign-in to Account
Switch Role
Role to EC2 Instance
Password Policy
How to Access AWS
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Permissions and Permission Types
Policies Structure
User Based Policies
Resource Based Policies
Resource Based Permission
Policies Types
Request Flow
Limitations
IAM HTTPS API
Logging IAM Events with AWS CloudTail
Hands On

Amazon CloudWatch

What is Amazon CloudWatch
Features and Benefits
CloudWatch Architecture
Hands On

AWS Auto Scaling

What is AWS Auto Scaling
Auto Scaling Components
Auto Scaling Group
Auto Scaling Launch Configuration
Auto Scaling Benefits
Auto Scaling Lifecycle
Auto Scaling Plans
Manual Scaling
Schedule Scaling
Dynamic Scaling
Auto Scaling Step Adjustment
Auto Scaling Termination Policy
Default Termination Policy
Health Check
Hands On

Amazon Application Services

Elastic BeanStalk
Simple Email Services (SES)
Simple Queue Service (SQS)
Simple Notification Services (SNS)
AWS Lambda
Introduction to Elastic OpWorks
Hands On

About AWS Solution Architect Associate Exam

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