Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
Features And Benefits
2.1.
Simple application deployment
2.2.
AWS resource selection
2.3.
Cost estimation
2.4.
Reusable code templates
2.5.
SNS notification
2.6.
Always On Availability Groups
2.7.
Early input validation
2.8.
Application resource groups
2.9.
One-click monitoring
2.10.
Amazon FSx
3.
Deployment Options
3.1.
Deployment on Windows
3.2.
Deployment on Linux
4.
Frequently Asked Questions
4.1.
What is the launch wizard in AWS?
4.2.
What is Amazon FSx
4.3.
What is Always on Availability Group?
4.4.
How can we have Re-Usable code Templates?
5.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024

AWS Launch Wizard

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Introduction

The AWS Launch Wizard provides a guided approach to sizing, customizing, and deploying AWS resources for third-party applications such as Microsoft SQL Server Always On and HANA-based SAP systems, eliminating the need to identify and provide specific AWS resources manually. First, you enter your application requirements, such as performance, node count, and connection, into the service console. The Launch Wizard then determines which AWS resources, such as EC2 instances and EBS volumes, are required to deploy and execute your application.

The Launch Wizard estimates the cost of deployment and allows you to alter your resources to get an updated cost assessment quickly. After you authorize the AWS resources, Launch Wizard seamlessly supplies and configures the resources to produce a fully functional, production-ready application. AWS Launch Wizard also generates CloudFormation templates that may be used as a starting point for further deployments. You may use Launch Wizard at no additional cost. You only pay for AWS resources used to execute your solution.
 

Source: AWSdocs

Features And Benefits

Simple application deployment

The AWS Launch Wizard simplifies the deployment of third-party programs on AWS, such as Microsoft SQL Server. AWS Launch Wizard installs the AWS resources required for a production-ready app when you provide the application requirements. This eliminates the need to maintain different infrastructure components or spend time procuring and configuring your SQL Server application.

AWS resource selection

To identify the optimum instance type, EBS volumes, and other assets for your SQL Server application, Launch Wizard examines performance, memory, bandwidth, and other application aspects. The suggested defaults can be changed.

Cost estimation

The Launch Wizard calculates the total cost of deployment. The cost estimate for each resource to deploy is listed. The projected cost instantly changes when you alter a resource type configuration in the wizard. The estimations offered are merely for broad comparisons. The estimates are based on On-Demand charges, which may be lower in practice.

Reusable code templates

The Launch Wizard generates a CloudFormation stack that can configure and duplicate your infrastructure across various environments. The code in the template assists you in provisioning resources. The templates built by your Launch Wizard deployment may be accessed and used via the CloudFormation interface.

SNS notification

You can specify an SNS subject to get updates and alerts regarding deployment status via Launch Wizard.

Always On Availability Groups

Always On Availability Group is a Microsoft SQL SQL Server feature that the AWS SQL Server installation supports. AG improves the accessibility of a group of user databases. An availability group provides a backup environment for a specific collection of user databases, referred to as availability databases. If one of these databases fails, another takes over its task with no effect on availability. Always On Availability increases database availability, allowing for more effective resource utilization.

Early input validation

Launch Wizard's validation framework examines critical application and infrastructure parameters before provisioning to discover Input validity errors early in the application deployment process. These Verifications can save up to four times the time it would take to complete things manually.

Application resource groups

The Launch Wizard builds a resource group for all your SQL Server application's AWS resources. You may manage the resources using either the EC2 interface or Systems Manager. When using the Launch Wizard to access Systems Manager, the resources are dynamically filtered for you, depending on your resource group. Systems Manager allows you to manage, patch, and support SQL Server applications.

One-click monitoring

Launch Wizard works with CloudWatch Application Insights for a Single-click monitoring setup experience for SQL Server HA workloads deployed on AWS. It immediately creates appropriate metrics, logs, and alarms on CloudWatch and monitors freshly launched workloads. On the CloudWatch console, you can examine intuitive insights and discover faults and the status of your SQL Server HA workloads.

Amazon FSx

For SQL Server deployments, Launch Wizard takes advantage of Amazon FSx to offer Failover Clustering. Failover Clustering is a SQL high availability solution that shares all database and log files (Amazon FSx). The Amazon FSx file share covers several Availability Zones and is highly redundant, enabling automated failover across SQL nodes in the case of a failure.

Deployment Options

AWS Launch Wizard provides the deployment paths for both Linux and Windows ecosystems.

Deployment on Windows

1. Deploy SQL Server across many Availability Zones in a new VPC

When you select this configuration option, the Launch Wizard creates a new AWS environment that includes the VPC, subnets, NAT gateways, security groups, domain controllers, and other infrastructure components. The new VPC is then configured using Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC) and SQL Server across various Availability Zones.

 

2. Install SQL Server on a single node in a new VPC

When you select this configuration option, the Launch Wizard creates a new AWS environment that includes the VPC, subnet, NAT gateway, security groups, domain controllers, as well as other infrastructure components. It then installs SQL Server on a single node in the newly created VPC.

 

3. Deploy SQL Server into a preexisting VPC and build a new AWS Managed Active Directory

When you select this configuration option, Launch Wizard creates a new AWS environment with security groups, domain controllers, as well as other infrastructure components before deploying Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC) with SQL Server into the chosen VPC and subnets. 

 

4. Deploy SQL Server across multiple Availability Zones into an existing VPC with a pre-existing AWS Managed Active Directory

When you select this configuration option, the Launch Wizard installs Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC) across several Availability Zones in your current AWS infrastructure. Your AWS setup must comprise a VPC with two or three Availability Zones, private subnets inside each Availability Zone, at least one public subnet within the VPC, and an AWS Active Directory within the VPC.
 

5. Deploy SQL Server on a single node into an existing VPC with a pre-existing AWS Managed Active Directory

Launch Wizard installs SQL Server on a single node in your existing AWS architecture when you select this option. Your AWS environment must have a VPC in at least one Availability Zone, a private subnet, a public subnet, and an AWS Active Directory in the VPC.
 

8. Deploy SQL HA on Dedicated Hosts using Windows BYOL or SQL Server BYOL licenses AMIs

When you select this configuration option, the Launch Wizard creates SQL Server Always On Availability Groups on your existent Dedicated Hosts and uses your current SQL Server licenses (BYOL) to deploy SQL Server High Availability solutions.

 

Source: AWSdocs

Deployment on Linux

1. Deploy SQL Server across several Availability Zones in a new VPC

When you select this configuration option, the Launch Wizard creates a new AWS environment that includes the VPC, subnets, NAT gateways, security groups, as well as other infrastructure components. The SQL Server Always On Availability Groups (AG) are then deployed across several Availability Zones into the VPC utilizing Pacemaker and fence agents for cluster management.

 

2. Deploy SQL Server on a single node in a new VPC

When you select this configuration option, the Launch Wizard creates a new AWS environment that includes the VPC, subnet, NAT gateways, security groups, as well as other infrastructure components. It then deploys SQL Server AG on one node into the VPC, utilizing Pacemaker and fencing agents to control the cluster.
 

3. Deploy SQL Server across several Availability Zones in an existing VPC

Launch Wizard creates a new AWS environment with security groups and other infrastructure components before deploying SQL Server AG across several Availability Zones into the selected VPC and subnets when you select this configuration option. AWS requires a VPC with three Availability Zones, private subnets within every Availability Zone, and a minimum of one public subnet in the VPC.

 

4. Deploy SQL Server on a single node in an existing VPC

When you select this configuration option, Launch Wizard creates a new AWS environment, including security groups as well as other infrastructure components, and afterward deploys SQL Server AG on a single node in the given VPC and subnet. You must have a VPC with one Availability Zone, a private subnet, and a public subnet in your AWS system.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the launch wizard in AWS?

The AWS Launch Wizard provides a guided approach to sizing, customizing, and deploying AWS resources for third-party applications, eliminating the need to identify and deliver specific AWS resources manually.

What is Amazon FSx

Failover Clustering(FSx) is a SQL high availability solution that shares all database and log files. The Amazon FSx file share covers several Availability Zones and is highly redundant, enabling automated failover across SQL nodes in the case of a failure.

What is Always on Availability Group?

An availability group provides a backup environment for a specific collection of user databases, referred to as availability databases. If one of these databases fails, another takes over its task with no effect on availability.

How can we have Re-Usable code Templates?

The templates built by your Launch Wizard deployment may be accessed and used via the CloudFormation interface.

Conclusion

This article will help you understand AWS Launch Wizard, its features and usage, and its deployment in different OS Environments. I hope you have gathered some helpful information about AWS Launch Wizard while reading this blog. After reading about the AWS Launch Wizard, are you not feeling excited to read/explore more articles on the topic of amazon-related sources? Don't worry, Coding Ninjas has you covered. To learn, see Operating SystemUnix File SystemFile System Routingand File Input/Output.

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