停止EC2实例后，已安装的Web应用是否会被删除？含AWS文档相关疑问

Hey Ben, let's clear up these two common EC2 questions for you clearly:

1. Will my web app be deleted when I stop an EC2 instance? #

Absolutely not—stopping an EC2 instance is just like powering off a physical computer temporarily. Here's what actually happens:

• Your instance's EBS volumes (including the root volume, unless you explicitly configured it to delete on stop) retain all persistent data: that includes your installed web app, configuration files, databases, and any uploaded content.
• When you start the instance back up, it boots from the EBS root volume exactly as it was before stopping. Your web app will be right where you left it, ready to run again.
• The only scenario where your app would get deleted is if you terminate the instance and have the root EBS volume set to delete on termination (a default for some instance types, but you can adjust this setting anytime).

2. What does that AWS documentation quote mean for my web app? #

First, let's rephrase the quote to put it in context:

any data stored in the RAM of the host computer or the instance store volumes of the host computer is gone.

This line refers to temporary, non-persistent storage—not your core web app files (unless you intentionally stored them there):

• RAM data: This is the instance's working memory—things like in-memory caches, active user session data, or temporary variables your app uses while running. When you stop the instance, this data is wiped, but it doesn't touch your app's actual files stored on disk.
• Instance store volumes: These are local, fast storage drives tied directly to the host server running your EC2 instance. They're not persistent—if you stop, terminate, or move the instance, all data here is lost. But most users install web apps on EBS volumes (persistent, network-attached storage) instead of instance stores, so your app won't be affected by this.

In short: As long as your web app is installed on an EBS volume (the standard setup for most use cases), stopping the instance won't delete it. The documentation quote only applies to temporary in-memory data and local instance store volumes.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Ben Nalle