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Identify Idle AWS EC2 Instances

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AWS EC2 instances that are running but not actively used represent unnecessary costs. An "idle" EC2 instance typically exhibits very low metrics on parameters such as CPU utilization, network input/output, and disk read/writes. By leveraging AWS CloudWatch, users can monitor these metrics and identify instances that remain underutilized based on low CPU usage over extended periods. Once identified, these instances can either be stopped or terminated, leading to more efficient resource use and cost savings. It's important to analyze and verify the activity of these instances before taking action to ensure no critical processes are inadvertently affected.

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    Stop an AWS EC2 Instance

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    In AWS, an EC2 instance can be in various states, including running, stopped, or terminated. Stopping an EC2 instance essentially means shutting it down, similar to turning off a computer. When an instance is stopped, it is not running, and therefore, you are not billed for instance usage. However, you are still billed for any EBS storage associated with the instance. The advantage of stopping, instead of terminating, is that you can start the instance again at any time. This capability is useful for scenarios where you want to temporarily halt operations without losing the instance configuration or data. It's essential to understand that stopping an instance will lead to the loss of the ephemeral storage content (Instance Store), but data on EBS volumes will remain intact.

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