SAP-C02 Instance store Practice Question
Network Topology
Refer to the exhibit. A solutions architect runs the CLI command to list EC2 instances. The output shows three instances. The architect wants to start the stopped instance and ensure it retains its instance store data. What should the architect do?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common misconception is that creating an AMI from a stopped instance will preserve all its data, including instance store volumes. In reality, AMIs only capture EBS-backed volumes, not instance store volumes.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an AMI from the stopped instance before starting it, then launch a new instance from the AMI.
Instance store volumes provide temporary block-level storage for an EC2 instance. The data on instance store volumes persists only during the lifetime of the associated instance; it is lost when the instance is stopped or terminated. Therefore, once an instance with instance store volumes is stopped, the data on those volumes is irrecoverable. None of the provided options can retain the instance store data. Option A is incorrect because modifying the instance type does not recover lost data. Option B is incorrect because instance store volumes cannot be detached. Option C is incorrect because an AMI captures only EBS-backed volumes, not instance store volumes. Option D is incorrect because simply starting the instance will not restore the lost data. To preserve instance store data, it must be copied to persistent storage (e.g., EBS, S3) before stopping the instance.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Modify the instance type to one that supports instance store, then start the instance.
Why it's wrong here
Modifying the instance type does not recover instance store data that has already been lost. Instance store volumes are ephemeral and their data is lost on stop.
- ✗
Detach the instance store volume and attach it to a running instance.
Why it's wrong here
Instance store volumes cannot be detached from an instance. They are physically attached to the host computer and are not detachable or reattachable.
- ✓
Create an AMI from the stopped instance before starting it, then launch a new instance from the AMI.
Why this is correct
An AMI captures only the root volume and any attached EBS volumes. Instance store volumes are not included in the AMI, so creating an AMI from a stopped instance will not capture the instance store data.
- ✗
Run `aws ec2 start-instances --instance-ids i-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h9` to start the instance.
Why it's wrong here
Starting the instance will restore the instance's state but the instance store data was already lost when the instance was stopped. This command does not retain the data.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
Go deeper
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