Integrating ECS with Amazon Elastic File System (EFS) Tutorial
Introduction
Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS) is a highly scalable container orchestration service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It allows you to run Docker containers in a managed environment, simplifying the deployment and scaling of containerized applications. Amazon Elastic File System (EFS) is a scalable and fully managed file storage service offered by AWS. It provides shared file storage for use with ECS and other services.
Step 1: Create an EFS File System
Before integrating ECS with EFS, you need to create an EFS file system. This can be done through the AWS Management Console or by using the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI). Here's an example CLI command to create an EFS file system:
aws efs create-file-system --creation-token MyEFSFileSystem
Step 2: Configure EFS Mount Targets
Next, you need to configure mount targets for your EFS file system. Mount targets allow ECS tasks to access the EFS file system. You can create mount targets in different availability zones for high availability. Here's an example CLI command to create an EFS mount target:
aws efs create-mount-target --file-system-id fs-12345678 --subnet-id subnet-12345678
Step 3: Define a Task Definition
In order to use EFS with ECS, you need to define a task definition that specifies the container(s) and the volume(s) to mount from EFS. You can define the task definition using the AWS Management Console or the AWS CLI. Here's an example task definition in JSON format:
{
"family": "my-task",
"containerDefinitions": [
{
"name": "my-container",
"image": "my-container-image",
"mountPoints": [
{
"sourceVolume": "my-efs-volume",
"containerPath": "/mnt/efs"
}
]
}
],
"volumes": [
{
"name": "my-efs-volume",
"efsVolumeConfiguration": {
"fileSystemId": "fs-12345678",
"transitEncryption": "ENABLED",
"authorizationConfig": {
"accessPointId": "fsap-12345678"
}
}
}
]
}
Step 4: Create an ECS Service
After defining the task definition, you can create an ECS service to run and manage your containers. The service ensures that the specified number of tasks are running and maintains the desired state. You can create the service through the AWS Management Console or by using the AWS CLI. Here's an example CLI command to create an ECS service:
aws ecs create-service --cluster my-cluster --service-name my-service --task-definition my-task-definition --desired-count 2
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to create the EFS file system or mount targets before attempting to integrate with ECS.
- Incorrectly configuring the EFS volume in the task definition, such as specifying an invalid file system ID.
- Not granting the necessary permissions for ECS to access the EFS file system.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
-
Can I use multiple EFS volumes with ECS?
Yes, you can use multiple EFS volumes by defining multiple volume configurations in the task definition.
-
Can I share an EFS file system across multiple ECS clusters?
Yes, you can share an EFS file system across multiple ECS clusters as long as they are in the same AWS region.
-
Can I access an EFS file system from multiple ECS tasks simultaneously?
Yes, you can access an EFS file system from multiple ECS tasks running on different instances simultaneously.
-
What happens if my EFS mount target becomes unavailable?
If a mount target becomes unavailable, ECS tasks using that mount target may experience issues accessing the EFS file system. It is recommended to create multiple mount targets in different availability zones for high availability.
-
Can I use EFS with Fargate tasks?
Yes, you can use EFS with Fargate tasks starting from platform version 1.4.0.
Summary
In this tutorial, you learned how to integrate Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS) with Amazon Elastic File System (EFS). You created an EFS file system, configured EFS mount targets, defined a task definition with an EFS volume, and created an ECS service to run your containers. By integrating ECS with EFS, you can easily share persistent data across multiple containers and instances in a scalable manner.