Automatically Start and Stop EC2 Instances with AWS Instance Scheduler

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

What else do you want to learn in AWS? Let me know below in the comments! ☺

[@Chemical_Logic]

Your video is fantastic and helpful . Do you have video to delete snapshot automatically based on tagging information example "Delete" - "2023-05-01" the snapshot should delete on the date I set l.

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Thanks for watching, Perfect_Circle! 😊 I don't have a video about this, but you probably want to check out Data Lifecycle Manager: docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/snapshot-ami-policy.html. That will let you set up retention policies based on age or count. Hope that helps!

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Ha! I'll add it! 😁

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Oh, that's so awesome!!! Good luck on the exam! 😎🙌💪

[@akashshirsekar2357]

deep dive on cloud formation, i have watched your cloud formation for beginner video. wanted to explore more

[@denislevkovich]

Absolutely brilliant! Thank you so much for the tutorial: saved me hours and hours of figuring it out on my own, not to mention EC2 time!

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

I'm so glad it helped! Thanks for watching and for supporting the channel!! 🥰

[@joedolister601]

Awesome - Super Clear and simple explanation! Great Job - you are are saving me hours ;)

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Oh, that's awesome!! So glad it helped. Thanks for watching! 😊

[@shawnlamey6643]

Great tutorial! I had a couple questions if you don't mind :) 1) How to schedule a RDS instance? You mention that you can use this solution. What would be different here? Is it just a matter of placing a tag of the schedule on the RDS instance? 2) How does this solution compare to creating a Maintenance Window in AWS Systems Manager on the EC2 instances(s)? Thank you for your time!

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hi Shawn! 👋 1) I haven't tried this with an RDS instance yet, but as far as I know, yes, you'd just need to tag the instance, just like you would a "regular" EC2 instance. I don't see anything in the documentation about needing to do anything special for RDS. 2) Instance Scheduler will work with SSM Maintenance windows (but only for EC2 instances, not RDS), to start and stop instances for the window. There's a field for that in the schedule: docs.aws.amazon.com/solutions/latest/instance-scheduler-on-aws/schedules.html#ssm-maintenance-window-field Hope that helps! Thanks for watching! 🌟😊🙏

[@mikedqin]

Very clear instructions on how-to. Thank you so much.

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Yay! I'm so glad it helped. Thanks for watching! 🙏🤓🌟

[@mikedqin]

@@TinyTechnicalTutorials Thank you for your quick response. Do you have a preferred social media platform to connect? I have some ideas about technical content creation, and would like to share. Thanks again.

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hey Mike! 👋 Feel free to drop me an email at [e-mail]. 😊

[@smoking6669]

How to IRCTC running ip address auto create

[@AroundDubai]

You are a life server. Still there are some confusion in the time zone but it's manageable.

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Great! I'm glad it helped! 😎🙏🌟

[@AroundDubai]

@@TinyTechnicalTutorials Can you please do detailed guide on setting up VPN client to access AWS resources ?

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Ooh, great suggestion! I'll add this to my list for future videos. Thanks for this! 🤓🙏

[@fredscholl5250]

Very nice!

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching, and for the nice comment! 🙏🌟🤓

[@9841554468]

Upon revisiting to provide further feedback, I encountered significant confusion while following your video instructions, particularly on two aspects: Time Zone configuration. Settings within the Config Table on DynamoDB. I found myself needing to watch another KZbinr's highly detailed video to resolve the time zone setup issue, as the scheduler wasn't functioning properly. Nevertheless, I eventually managed to address it. Regarding the Config Table modifications in DynamoDB, a crucial point to note is the hierarchy of parameters. There are three types: config, schedule, and period. When schedule applies to the instances, the scheduler first seeks the schedule tag on the Config Table. Initially, it looks for the schedule; hence, it's imperative to have the same parameters in the periods section of the schedule to identify the period type, as the scheduler targets it next. Within the period type, you establish the start and end times before configuring the time zone. It's crucial to ensure that the time zone configuration matches across both the config and schedule. Additionally, it's essential to note that the Scheduler and Instances must be in the same region-whether it's N. Virginia, Ohio, N. California, etc.-to ensure proper functionality; otherwise, it won't work as intended. Appreciate for the contents, it was huge help to configure my server's schedule.

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Thanks for taking the time to post this, @b4anjan! Much appreciated, and I'm sure it'll help someone else too! 🙏🤓🌟

[@Ahshawky01]

which is the better Instance Scheduler on AWS or EventBridge and lambda function ?

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hi Ahmed! 👋 I'd say the answer is "it depends." 😊 AWS Instance scheduler is the simpler way to go (it's easy to set up, you don't have to write code...), but if you need more control and have complex scheduling logic, etc., then EventBridge/Lambda would be the way to go.

[@arickle]

AWS engineers create an intuitive GUI for literally anything challenge (IMPOSSIBLE)

[@PrayasFinance]

Hi, i have change instance scheduler tag name but i forgot how can find out the tag name.

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hi Prayas Finance! 👋 The parameter for "Instance Scheduler tag name" was set when you created the CloudFormation stack (see around 03:17 in the video). So you should be able to go back into that CloudFormation stack and look at the details (I've already deleted mine, and can't remember the exact tab/screen it's on, but it should be somewhere there in the stack itself). Hope that helps. Thanks for watching! 🙏🤓🌟

[@qx4df]

can you please make a video on AWS Pilot Light and like disaster recovery and things related to it

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hi @qx4df! 😊 I'll add this to my list for future videos. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@saijeswanth6673]

@TinyTechnicalTutorials Is there Textbook Link for the AWS. Please share the link if possible.

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hi Sai! 👋 I haven't used books for AWS in a long time, as I find they get out of date quickly. But you can find all sorts of them on Amazon, from general overviews to specific services: www.amazon.com/s?k=amazon+web+services&crid=3PD1FWTAW2WW6&sprefix=amazon+web+service%2Caps%2C152&ref=nb_sb_noss_1.

[@naren06938]

I want to practice this, but u haven't created table items from scratch and not given its csv file in description also....

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hi Narendra! 😊 The table items get created by deploying the CloudFormation template.

[@sushantsanu]

Can I use it for shutdown purpose only? If yes then how please suugest.

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hi Sushant! 👋 Yes, you can use this for shutdown only (you don't have to use it for starting too). This tutorial is probably a little bit out of date, but it should have the right values you need in the database and such: www.pluralsight.com/cloud-guru/labs/aws/use-aws-instance-scheduler-to-shut-down-an-ec2-instance. Hope that helps! 🌟😊

[@felipecardoso229]

Where can I found another timezones rather than the US/Pacif? in my case if someone know, it from Brasil Sao Paulo or Brasilia..

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hi Felipe! 😊 I can't find an official list of zones for AWS Instance Scheduler, but found a good list for Athena. Perhaps these are universally used in all AWS services? docs.aws.amazon.com/athena/latest/ug/athena-supported-time-zones.html

[@rashanjones6192]

Great video! Can there be a second tag added for a patching schedule? For example, I want all of my machines to shutdown at 5pm Monday-Friday, but on the last Saturday of the month, I want them all on for patching. How would something like that work? Thank you.

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hi Rashan! 👋 Sorry for the slow response! I haven't tried that scenario myself, but it *should* be possible. You can have multiple periods in a schedule, and there are also fields for "days of the week" and "days of the month" that seem suited to a "last Saturday of the month" situation. You'll probably have to experiment a bit to get it just right, but here's the documentation if you need it: docs.aws.amazon.com/solutions/latest/instance-scheduler-on-aws/period-rules.html

[@rashanjones6192]

@@TinyTechnicalTutorials Thank you for your response. I will go through the documentation and give it a try. I'm currently using System Manager Maintenance Windows with run commands/automation documents to handle the start/stop, but I'm curious to give this alternative a try. Thank you again.

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

You bet! Feel free to report back here with a solution...it might help someone else! 🤓

[@QuicheAim]

Great tutorial! If I wanted to just set a time to shut of an instance and not have it automatically start, then would that simply be done by excluding a "begintime" keypair in the schedule item?

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Thanks, @QuicheAim! 😊 I haven't tried that scenario myself, but it seems like excluding "begintime" would do the trick. Let me know if it works!

[@sankettilekar8650]

I think you can use alarm facility with ec2 to automatically shut down instance.

[@bobhassanster]

Could you do oracle services too they really interesting.

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hi bobhassanster! 😊 My Oracle skills are fairly limited, but I'll add this to my list of ideas for future videos. Thanks for watching! 🙏

[@fredscholl5250]

Do you have to install the instance scheduler??

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

When you deploy it, there's a CloudFormation template that runs in the background to "install" it (the Lambda function and DynamoDB database). 😊

[@2u841r]

thank you

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Yay! Thanks for watching! 🙏🌟🤓

[@stayhappy1167]

GOOD VIDEO

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Thanks for watching! 😊🌟🙏

[@kotreshbm3563]

Hi, i want to automate my instance to schedule on and off on weekends. But the challenge is if the instance is using on Friday and Saturday it will automatically on. Can you please help me on this?

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hi Kotresh! 👋 Can you clarify the "on and off on weekends"? When did you want to turn the instances off and then back on?

[@kotreshbm3563]

@@TinyTechnicalTutorials I want to off unused instance on weekends like Saturday and Sunday. Again if any instance is used on weekends the instance should be on automatically

[@pritishparihar6752]

​@@kotreshbm3563Your issue seems interesting, any update on it?

[@joyebot7371]

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

For sure! Thanks for watching! 😊

[@AngeloCarlotto]

🎉🎉 awesome

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Thank you, Angelo! 😊

[@soportetecnologiaocsystem1933]

thanyouuuuuuuuuuu!!!!! 🤩

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Thank YOUUUUUUU! 😂

[@soportetecnologiaocsystem1933]

@@TinyTechnicalTutorials Asi es!! Gracias me sirvio mucho tu video!!

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

De nada!

[@kwab0909]

I followed it but its not working

[@kwab0909]

what time zone should I be using. UTC, world clock or normal time???

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Sorry to hear that! Which part isn't working?

[@kwab0909]

@@TinyTechnicalTutorials found out why the instance is encrypted

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Oooooh, interesting!!! I haven't tried it on an encrypted instance before. Thanks for posting this...hopefully it helps someone else! 😊

[@Guitar-Geek]

why?? in the name of the all gods which humanity created, why the hacking god damn name of satan it is soooooo difficult in comparison of Azure???

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

LOL! Tell me how you really feel! 😂

[@saychaan7438]

may i know ur insta id mam

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

I'm only here on KZbin. 😊

[@dheerajtyagi9472]

any free solution like have in azure ?

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

AWS has a Free Tier that covers a lot of the core services for the 12 months of your account. You can find more details here: aws.amazon.com/free/. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching! 🤓🙏🌟

[@jimmyli4503]

wonderful tutorial thank you! amazon documentation can be very dense and hard to understand what the important bits are

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!! 🙏🤓🌟

[@lotto0901]

Thank you very much for the tutorial! your instructions are straight forward and easy to follow along!

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Yay! I'm so glad it helped. Thanks for watching! 🤓🌟🙏

[@allenthemartian]

@TinyTechnicalTutorials I have launched an EC2 insatnce from Mumbai Region set the timezones at every step to 'Asia/Kolkata' but the instance is not shutting down as expected. Instance is not encrypted.

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hey Allen! 👋 Were you able to sort this out?

[@allenthemartian]

​@@TinyTechnicalTutorials Yes I was. If I wanted the instance to shut down at a particular time. The 'Begin Time' should be before my current time. Same with starting up, the 'Begin Time' should be before my current time. It'll still work even if you don't do this, but it will execute the schedule on the following day. (P.S. This is purely for testing purposes.) Thank you for the wonderful and clear tutorial.

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Awwww...gotcha!! Thanks so much for the update. Good to know, and I'm sure it'll help someone else too! 👍🤓

[@Vinod_Kumar827]

Nice tutorial.....just one query here Lambda is stopping and starting the tagged instance based on Cron given in the DynamoDB table but how frequently or what makes Lambda to poll this cron data from database everytime to ensure that the timing is correct to take an action on tagged instance?

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hi Vinod! It's actually a CloudWatch event that invokes the Lambda function at the defined interval. You can check out more on "Step 1" here under the "Technical details" section: aws.amazon.com/solutions/implementations/instance-scheduler-on-aws/ Hope that helps! Thanks for watching! 😊🙏

[@Vinod_Kumar827]

@@TinyTechnicalTutorials Thanks, that makes sense..... can I also put it this way that without this Instance Schedular, a lot of things like setting up Lambda, and CloudWatch Event we were supposed to do it manually and now with Instance Schedular and with its CloudFormation script, it is all automated. Now DynamoDB is storing the cron data whereas in the traditional way, we had to manually configure the cron at the CloudWatch/EventBridge level?

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

I think that's a fair summary. It was possible to do all of this manually before, but with this solution, things are automated/magically set up for you. 🤓

[@Vinod_Kumar827]

@@TinyTechnicalTutorials I was architecting a similar solution using the old traditional approach for one of my use cases for my company and suddenly yours video tutorial on KZbin popped up for me which really gave me some great idea. Thank you, I really appreciate your efforts. Keep up with good work.

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Awesome! Thanks for the support! 🙏😊

[@denislevkovich]

Thanks!

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

@denislevkovich!! Thank you SO much for the support!!! Much appreciated (and sorry it's taken me so long to say thanks!!). 🤓🙏🌟🥰🔥

[@akashshirsekar2357]

simple and clean

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Yay! Glad it helped! 🌟🎉😎

[@caiyu538]

Great

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Thanks for watching! 😊

[@9841554468]

Apart from education, your voice is very sexy, it gives the vibe to stay connected, kind of sound makes your stay.

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Ha! 😂 I'm so glad!! Thanks for watching! 🙏🤓🌟