Amazon Elastic IP
A static, public IPv4 address designed for dynamic cloud computing.
Description
Amazon Elastic IP is a service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that allows users to allocate a static IP address to their resources hosted on the cloud. Unlike traditional static IPs, Elastic IPs can be easily associated or disassociated with Amazon EC2 instances, enabling seamless management of network resources. This capability is particularly beneficial in scenarios where instances need to be stopped and started, as it ensures that the IP address remains consistent. The service provides high availability since users can reallocate the Elastic IP to another instance in case of failure. For example, if an application hosted on EC2 experiences issues, the Elastic IP can be quickly rerouted to a standby instance without changing the IP address that clients use to connect. This flexibility is critical for maintaining uptime and reducing service interruptions in production environments. Moreover, AWS charges for Elastic IPs only when they are not associated with a running instance, encouraging efficient use of resources.
Examples
- A web application hosted on EC2 can use an Elastic IP to ensure that users consistently connect to the same address, even if the underlying instance is replaced.
- During disaster recovery, a company can quickly redirect traffic to a backup server with an Elastic IP, minimizing downtime.
Additional Information
- Elastic IPs are limited to a certain number per AWS account, typically five per region, to prevent abuse.
- If an Elastic IP is not associated with a running instance, AWS charges a small fee, incentivizing users to manage their resources efficiently.