Week 3 Worklog

Week 3 Objectives:

  • Focus on optimizing application performance through caching and content delivery solutions.
  • Expand advanced network infrastructure and implement centralized system management solutions.
  • Explore advanced Infrastructure as Code (IaC) features in preparation for the group project.

Tasks implemented this week:

No.TasksStart DateEnd DateResource
1- Research: In-memory caching mechanisms, comparing Redis and Memcached.
- Hands-on:
  + Initialize Amazon ElastiCache (Redis Cluster).
  + Use AWS SDK to perform high-performance data read/write operations.		03/23/202603/23/2026AWS Study Group
2- Research: Hub-and-spoke architecture with Transit Gateway and inter-region connectivity models.
- Hands-on:
  + Set up VPC Peering and Transit Gateway.
  + Configure Site-to-Site VPN connections.		03/24/202603/24/2026AWS Study Group
3- Research: Route 53 Resolver for Hybrid networks and Content Delivery Network (CDN) principles.
- Hands-on:
  + Configure CloudFront Distributions with Cache Behaviors.
  + Deploy Lambda@Edge at global edge locations.		03/25/202603/25/2026AWS Study Group
4- Research: Large-scale server management methods without opening ports 22/3389.
- Hands-on:
  + Use Systems Manager (SSM) Run Command for bulk execution.
  + Connect securely to instances via Session Manager.		03/26/202603/26/2026AWS Study Group
5- Research: CloudFormation Custom Resources using Lambda triggers.
- Project:
  + Group sync to finalize RDS/DynamoDB separation for the project.
  + Finalize data flow diagrams for Frontend (S3/CloudFront) and Backend.		03/27/202603/27/2026AWS Documentation

Key Achievements in Week 3:

1. Performance Optimization & Distribution

  • Successfully understood and implemented in-memory data storage with ElastiCache - Redis, significantly reducing the load on primary databases.
  • Mastered CloudFront Distribution and Lambda@Edge configuration techniques to optimize user experience across different geographic locations.

2. Hybrid Network Infrastructure & Security

  • Gained proficiency in Hybrid network design by combining Transit Gateway and VPN to secure traffic between on-premises and cloud environments.
  • Successfully researched DNS query forwarding mechanisms through Route 53 Resolver.

3. Centralized Server Management

  • Proficiently used AWS Systems Manager for patch management and bulk command execution on Windows EC2 servers.
  • Completely eliminated the need for Bastion Hosts by implementing Session Manager, reducing security risks associated with opening direct management ports (22/3389).

4. Infrastructure as Code & Project Shaping

  • Accessed advanced CloudFormation features, specifically using Lambda as Custom Resources to initialize complex assets.
  • Finalized project architecture: Using S3/CloudFront for the Frontend, Lambda/EC2 for core processing, and a hybrid RDS/DynamoDB approach for storage optimization.

Knowledge Gained:

  • Technical Expertise: Deeply understood system optimization methods through caching and global content delivery networks. Developed a modern server management mindset without the need for Bastion Hosts.
  • Soft Skills: Developed a professional infrastructure automation mindset. Enhanced team coordination and system architecture planning skills for practical projects.