Serverless Architecture VS Monolith Architecture

Monolith-Server Architecture

• Server Setup:

  • Utilize an EC2 instance (a virtual machine) from AWS.
  • Configure the instance based on initial requirements (e.g., 2GB RAM, 500GB Storage, 10MB Bandwidth).
  • Install necessary software (e.g., Linux, Node.js, Express.js) and deploy code.

• Operation:

  • The server runs 24/7, ensuring constant availability.
  • Charges are based on hourly usage (e.g., $0.02 per hour).
  • Total monthly cost is fixed based on continuous operation.

• Scalability:

  • Use AWS Auto Scaling Group (ASG) for handling increased traffic.
  • Automatically adjust resources (e.g., increase RAM to 6GB and Storage to 1000GB) as needed.

• Management:

  • Full control over server configuration, software installation, and deployment.
  • Responsible for all server management tasks.

Serverless Architecture (AWS Lambda Functions)

• Setup:

  • No need to configure or manage servers.
  • Write code and upload it to AWS Lambda.
  • Choose the runtime environment (e.g., Node.js).
  • Set up an API Gateway to trigger the Lambda function via a URL.

• Operation:

  • Lambda functions do not run continuously; they execute in response to triggers (e.g., HTTP requests).
  • Charges are based on the number of invocations (e.g., $0.001 per invocation).
  • AWS handles scaling automatically to accommodate multiple concurrent requests.

• Scalability:

  • AWS Lambda automatically scales to handle traffic, creating instances of the function as needed.
  • Ensures that no user experiences wait times during high traffic periods.

• Cost:

  • First 1 million invocations per month are free.
  • Beyond that, charges apply (e.g., $0.20 per additional million requests).

• Management:

  • Minimal management required.
  • AWS manages underlying infrastructure, scaling, and maintenance.

Summary

• Monolith-Server Architecture:

  • Requires an EC2 instance and manual server management.
  • Fixed monthly costs based on continuous operation.
  • Full control over server and environment configuration.
  • Auto Scaling can be set up to handle increased traffic.

• Serverless Architecture (AWS Lambda):

  • No server management required; AWS handles infrastructure.
  • Pay per invocation, reducing costs for low-traffic scenarios.
  • Automatic scaling to handle varying traffic loads.
  • Simplified deployment and maintenance, ideal for dynamic and scalable applications.