Network Design and Edge Services on AWS

Network Design and Edge Services are critical components for building high-performing, globally distributed applications on AWS.

This blog covers network architecture design, edge networking services, global acceleration, and network connection options.

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How It Works & Core Attributes:

Network Architecture Design:

Design Fundamentals:

• What Network Design is: The process of planning and implementing network infrastructure to support application requirements. Network design considers performance, security, scalability, and cost factors
• Network Topology: The physical and logical arrangement of network components. Common topologies include hub-and-spoke, mesh, and hybrid architectures that combine multiple approaches
• IP Addressing Strategy: Planning IP address allocation to support current and future growth. This includes subnet design, CIDR notation, and address space management

Network Segmentation:

• Subnet Design: Dividing network address space into logical segments for different purposes. Subnets can be organized by function (web, application, database) or by environment (dev, test, prod)
• Route Tables: Controlling traffic flow between subnets and external networks. Route tables determine how packets are forwarded and can implement traffic engineering
• Network Security: Implementing security controls at the network level. This includes security groups, network ACLs, and network-level monitoring

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Edge Networking Services:

CloudFront Fundamentals:

• What CloudFront is: A global content delivery network (CDN) that delivers content to users with low latency and high transfer speeds. CloudFront caches content at edge locations worldwide
• Edge Locations: Points of presence (PoPs) located close to end users. Edge locations cache content and reduce latency by serving content from locations closer to users
• Origin Optimization: CloudFront can optimize delivery from various origins including S3, Application Load Balancer, EC2 instances, and custom origins

CloudFront Features:

• Cache Behaviors: Define how different types of content are cached and served. You can configure different cache behaviors for different file types, paths, or user agents
• Compression: CloudFront automatically compresses certain file types to reduce bandwidth usage and improve transfer speeds
• SSL/TLS Support: CloudFront supports HTTPS connections and can terminate SSL/TLS connections at the edge

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AWS Global Accelerator:

Global Accelerator Fundamentals:

• What Global Accelerator is: A networking service that improves the availability and performance of your applications with local or global users. Global Accelerator uses AWS's global network infrastructure
• Static IP Addresses: Global Accelerator provides static IP addresses that act as a fixed entry point to your application. These IP addresses don't change even if you modify your application architecture
• Traffic Management: Global Accelerator routes traffic to the optimal endpoint based on health, geography, and routing policies

Performance Benefits:

• Reduced Latency: Global Accelerator routes traffic over AWS's global network backbone, reducing latency compared to internet routing
• Improved Availability: Global Accelerator automatically routes traffic to healthy endpoints and can fail over between regions
• Health Checking: Global Accelerator continuously monitors the health of your endpoints and routes traffic only to healthy instances

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Network Connection Options:

VPN Connections:

• AWS VPN: A managed VPN service that provides secure connectivity between your on-premises network and AWS. AWS VPN supports both site-to-site and client VPN connections
• VPN Gateway: A managed service that provides VPN connectivity to your VPC. VPN Gateway supports both static and dynamic routing
• VPN Performance: AWS VPN provides high-performance connectivity with support for multiple tunnels and automatic failover

Direct Connect:

• What Direct Connect is: A network service that provides a dedicated network connection from your premises to AWS. Direct Connect bypasses the internet and provides consistent network performance
• Connection Types: Direct Connect supports 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps connections. You can also use Direct Connect Gateway to connect to multiple VPCs and regions
• Performance Benefits: Direct Connect provides consistent, low-latency connectivity and can reduce bandwidth costs compared to internet-based connections

AWS PrivateLink:

• What PrivateLink is: A technology that enables you to privately connect your VPC to supported AWS services, other AWS VPCs, or on-premises applications. PrivateLink provides secure, private connectivity
• VPC Endpoints: Private connections between your VPC and AWS services without requiring an internet gateway, NAT device, VPN connection, or AWS Direct Connect
• Security Benefits: PrivateLink keeps traffic within the AWS network and doesn't require public IP addresses or internet gateways

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Analogy: A Global Transportation Network

Imagine you're designing a global transportation network that efficiently moves people and goods worldwide.

Network Architecture Design: Your transportation infrastructure with highways, local roads, and traffic management systems. The network is designed to handle different types of traffic efficiently.

Edge Networking Services: Your network of local distribution centers that store frequently requested items close to customers. These centers reduce delivery times and improve customer satisfaction.

AWS Global Accelerator: Your express delivery system that uses dedicated routes to bypass congested public roads. The system provides consistent, fast delivery regardless of traffic conditions.

Network Connection Options: Your various transportation methods including public roads, private highways, and secure tunnels. Each method offers different levels of speed, security, and cost.

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Common Applications:

• Global Web Applications: Applications that need to serve users worldwide with low latency and high availability
• Content Delivery: Media streaming, software distribution, and static content delivery to global audiences
• E-commerce Platforms: Online stores that need fast, reliable access for customers worldwide
• Gaming Applications: Multiplayer games that require low-latency connections for real-time gameplay

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Quick Note: The "Network Performance Foundation"

• Design networks with scalability and performance in mind from the beginning
• Use edge services to reduce latency and improve user experience
• Choose the right connection options based on your performance and security requirements