Jeff’s Note #
Unlike generic exam dumps, ADH analyzes this scenario through the lens of a Real-World Lead Developer.
For AWS DVA-C02 candidates, the confusion often lies in distinguishing AWS CLI commands that deal with instance lifecycle steps. In production, this is about knowing exactly which command actually initiates a new EC2 instance launch from scratch versus commands that manage or confirm existing instances. Let’s drill down.
The Certification Drill (Simulated Question) #
Scenario #
Acme Digital Solutions is developing an automation pipeline that provisions new compute resources on-demand. As part of the deployment automation, the engineering team needs to programmatically launch a fresh Amazon EC2 instance from the command line using AWS CLI tools.
The Requirement: #
Identify the correct AWS CLI command that launches a new EC2 instance.
The Options #
- A) aws ec2 bundle-instance
- B) aws ec2 start-instances
- C) aws ec2 confirm-product-instance
- D) aws ec2 run-instances
Google adsense #
leave a comment:
Correct Answer #
D) aws ec2 run-instances
Quick Insight: The Developer CLI Command Imperative #
When working with EC2 lifecycle automation,
run-instancesis the fundamental API/CLI operation used to launch brand new instances, supplying image IDs, instance types, networking, and other configuration. Other options address niche or later-stage controls like starting stopped instances or confirming product licenses.
Content Locked: The Expert Analysis #
You’ve identified the answer. But do you know the implementation details that separate a Junior from a Senior?
The Expert’s Analysis #
Correct Answer #
Option D: aws ec2 run-instances
The Winning Logic #
The run-instances command calls the EC2 API to create and start a fresh instance based on parameters such as the AMI ID, instance type, key pair, and security groups. It initiates the full lifecycle of instance provisioning and bootstrapping. This command is the only one in the list designed to launch a new instance from scratch.
- This command corresponds directly to the
RunInstancesAPI action, which is core for provisioning new compute resources.
The Trap (Distractor Analysis): #
-
A) aws ec2 bundle-instance: This command is used to create an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) from an instance running on an instance-store-backed AMI. It does NOT launch instances.
-
B) aws ec2 start-instances: This command starts existing, stopped instances—it does NOT provision new instances.
-
C) aws ec2 confirm-product-instance: This is used to confirm ownership of a purchased EC2 Dedicated Host product—rarely used and not related to launching instances.
The Technical Blueprint #
CLI Command Example for Launching an EC2 Instance #
aws ec2 run-instances \
--image-id ami-0abcdef1234567890 \
--count 1 \
--instance-type t3.micro \
--key-name MyKeyPair \
--security-group-ids sg-0123456789abcdef0 \
--subnet-id subnet-abcdefgh
This command launches one EC2 instance based on the specified AMI and configuration.
The Comparative Analysis #
| Option | API Complexity | Performance | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Complex, niche | NA | Bundle instance (create AMI) |
| B | Simple | Quick to start | Start stopped instances |
| C | Specialized | NA | Confirm product license |
| D | Core EC2 launch API | Launch new instance | Create and run new EC2 instance |
Real-World Application (Practitioner Insight) #
Exam Rule #
“For the exam, always pick run-instances when you need to launch a fresh EC2 instance programmatically.”
Real World #
“In automation pipelines, additional parameters like user-data scripts and IAM roles are commonly added to run-instances commands to fully bootstrap the instance.”
(CTA) Stop Guessing, Start Mastering #
Disclaimer
This is a study note based on simulated scenarios for the AWS DVA-C02 exam.