How To Create A Multi-Tier Stack Using AWS CloudFormation

How To Create A Multi-tier Stack Using AWS CloudFormation?

AWS CloudFormation (CFN) makes it easy to deploy and manage your application infrastructure as an atomic unit using CloudFormation templates. In this article, we will cover how to use CFN to create a multi-tier stack. We will also see how to handle different deployment variations, such as a full-blown production stack with a load balancer, and a smaller footprint development stack using the same CFN template! Lastly, I will also highlight some important tips when designing the CFN templates for your applications.

Note: If you are new to CloudFormation, I highly recommend reading the AWS CloudFormation — An Architect’s Best Friend first to familiarize yourself with the basics.

Identify The Application Deployment Models

Before you start designing the CFN template, it is important to understand in which all possible ways the application can be deployed. At a minimum, identify the key deployment models. For example, what would a typical development deployment look like? Which resources would be needed and what are their configurations? Likewise, for production. Having these details upfront has several benefits.