EBS
Definition
Elastic Block Store (EBS) is AWS's persistent storage solution that attaches to EC2 instances, providing reliable and scalable block storage for
Use Cases
- Netflix: Persistent storage for stateful workloads and databases running on AWS compute — Netflix runs many services on AWS and uses EBS volumes attached to EC2 instances where block storage is needed, commonly combined with EBS snapshots for backup and recovery workflows. (Enables durable storage independent of instance lifecycle and supports operational recovery patterns (replace instances while keeping data on volumes).)
- Airbnb: Storing database data on persistent block storage for EC2-based database hosts — Airbnb has publicly discussed operating on AWS and using EC2 for parts of its infrastructure; for stateful hosts, EBS provides persistent block storage and snapshot-based backup/restore for volumes. (Improves resilience by decoupling compute from storage and simplifies maintenance by allowing instance replacement without losing attached volume data.)
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL): Running workloads on AWS that require durable disk storage attached to compute instances — NASA/JPL has used AWS for cloud workloads; EBS is commonly used in AWS architectures to provide persistent block storage for EC2 instances, with snapshots used for backup and cloning environments. (Supports repeatable environments and recovery options by using snapshots and persistent volumes rather than relying on instance-local disks.)
Provider Equivalents
- AWS: Amazon Elastic Block Store (Amazon EBS)
- Azure: Azure Managed Disks
- GCP: Persistent Disk
- OCI: OCI Block Volume
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the difference between Amazon EBS and instance store?
- EBS is persistent block storage: data stays on the volume even if you stop or replace the EC2 instance (unless you choose to delete it on termination). Instance store is physically attached to the host and is temporary: data can be lost if the instance stops, terminates, or the host fails. Use EBS when you need durability; use instance store when you need very fast temporary storage and can tolerate data loss.
- When should I use Amazon EBS?
- Use EBS when you need a durable disk for an EC2 instance, such as for databases, application servers that store files locally, boot volumes, or workloads needing consistent low-latency storage. It’s a good fit when you want to back up with snapshots, resize volumes, or move a volume to another instance in the same Availability Zone.
- How much does Amazon EBS cost?
- EBS pricing typically depends on the volume type (for example, SSD vs HDD classes), the amount of provisioned storage (GB-month), and any additional performance provisioning (such as provisioned IOPS for certain volume types). You also pay for EBS snapshots (stored in S3) based on the amount of snapshot data stored, and there may be charges for data transfer in some scenarios. For exact numbers, use the AWS Pricing page and the AWS Pricing Calculator for your region and volume type.
Category: data
Difficulty: intermediate
Related Terms
See Also