AWS Quick Start FAQ

Quick Starts are automated reference deployments for key enterprise workloads on the AWS cloud. Each Quick Start launches, configures, and runs the AWS compute, network, storage, and other services required to deploy a specific workload on AWS, using AWS best practices for security and availability.

Quick Starts include:

• AWS CloudFormation templates that provide a JSON scripting environment for configuring the deployment
• A deployment guide, which explains the architecture and implementation in detail, and provides instructions for customizing the deployment
• Single-click deployment of the solution on the AWS cloud

Quick Starts can help save you time by eliminating hundreds of manual installation and configuration steps in the deployment of enterprise software. They implement AWS best practices, so they're designed with your security and availability needs in mind.

Here are some of the ways you can use Quick Starts:

• As a baseline for your own implementations. Use the patterns and practices from Quick Starts to develop your own solutions.
• To accelerate solutions for your customers. The Quick Starts are modular and customizable. You can speed up your deployments by using the default automation or by stacking on top of existing Quick Starts. You can choose to build from the ground up, or you can deploy the workload into an existing Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (Amazon VPC).
• For agile, frictionless proof-of-concept and scenario testing. Spin up and take down environments as needed to iterate through your scenarios in the least amount of time. You can also use the quick launch option, where available, to test the default configuration we've provided before starting your customized deployment.
  

For several Quick Starts that take an hour or longer to deploy, we’ve included a quick launch option for your convenience:

• Quick launch deploys enterprise workloads on AWS by using a default configuration and a trial license. This option uses Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) with preinstalled software to speed up the deployment process, and reduces the deployment time to about 15 minutes. When the trial license expires, you can upgrade your software to a standard license. Use this option when you’d like to test an enterprise workload on AWS before you deploy it to a production environment. Learn more...
  
• Custom launch deploys the same enterprise workload by using customizable settings and a Bring Your Own License model. This deployment option takes longer, but you can customize your topology, change memory or storage sizing, or deploy the software into an existing AWS infrastructure. Use this option to test specific usage scenarios or for production.

For both options, you’re responsible for the cost of AWS services you use. There is no additional cost for running the Quick Start. For custom launches, you’re also responsible for licensing fees for the enterprise software you deploy.

AWS Test Drives and Quick Starts are complementary programs. 

Test Drives are built by APN Consulting and Technology Partners to give customers an opportunity to evaluate the partner's enterprise solution on the AWS cloud. Test Drives provide a private IT sandbox environment and a set amount of free AWS data center time for exploring and testing. You can contact the APN partner who built the Test Drive for a private pilot or purchase. For more information, see Test Drive Enterprise Solutions on AWS.

Quick Starts are built by AWS solutions architects in close collaboration with APN Consulting and Technology Partners. They're designed for piloting or production use, and they demonstrate AWS best practices for security, availability, and network configuration. Quick Starts are launched directly into your AWS account to get you up and running right away. You're responsible for the cost of AWS services you use, but you can take advantage of AWS promotional credit to offset your costs. Some Quick Starts provide a quick launch option that includes a trial license for exploring and testing. Custom launches have no time restrictions--you can run the environment for as long as you need it. 

You are responsible for all costs related to the AWS services you use while running Quick Start reference deployments, and for any license fees. However, there is no additional cost for using the Quick Start.

Deploying a Quick Start with the quick launch option or with default settings costs as little as a few dollars in AWS infrastructure charges. For example, for SAP HANA, the cost ranges approximately from $1.78 to $4.35 an hour for a single-node system using the default configuration, depending on the instance type (as of January 2015). We encourage you to take advantage of our credit offer for additional cost savings.

To get cost estimates for specific Quick Starts, see the deployment guides. Price estimates are based on default configurations and are subject to change. For full pricing information, see the pricing pages for specific AWS services or the AWS Simple Monthly Calculator.

Most Quick Start reference deployments enable you to spin up a fully functional architecture in less than an hour. Some Quick Starts also include a quick launch option that deploys the software with default settings in a fraction of that time, for rapid testing and evaluation. For information about specific Quick Starts, see the deployment guides. 

Quick Starts support key enterprise workloads, including solutions for big data, analytics, and security.

Supported Microsoft technologies include Microsoft Lync Server 2013, Microsoft Exchange Server 2013, Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC), SharePoint Server 2013, SQL Server 2012 and 2014, Remote Desktop Gateway, Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), and Web Application Proxy and Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS).

Other supported solutions include SAP HANA, SAP Business One, version for SAP HANA, MongoDB, Cloudera Enterprise Data Hub (EDH), Trend Micro Deep Security, and Magento Community Edition. 

For more information about each Quick Start, see AWS Quick Start Reference Deployments.

Quick Start reference deployments use the Bring Your Own License (BYOL) model. This means that you can use your existing licenses for SAP HANA, Microsoft software, and so on. This model enables you to move your existing workload to the AWS cloud without paying additional software licensing fees.

Some Quick Starts also provide a quick launch option that includes a trial license for exploring and testing the deployment. You can upgrade to a standard license for longer-term testing or production use. For licensing details, please check the documentation for the specific product you’re deploying with the Quick Start.

To get licensing information for specific Quick Starts, see the deployment guides. For more information about using your existing licenses for Microsoft technologies, see the Microsoft License Mobility program. 

Each deployment is discussed in detail in the guide that's provided with the Quick Start. The deployment guide describes the architecture, implementation details, best practices, customizations, and extensions.

If you want a brief review of the architecture you’ll be building before you deploy a Quick Start, see the architecture pages, which are available from the navigation pane on the left.

We also offer webinars that provide guided tours of Quick Start reference deployments. For Microsoft technologies, see Windows on AWS Webinars. For additional training and events, see AWS Training. 

Yes, you can. The two deployment options provide different levels of customization:

• Quick launches limit customization in exchange for speed. You can change the default region and passwords, but all other settings are fixed.
• Custom launches allow you to tailor deployment settings extensively to meet your requirements. For details, follow the instructions in the deployment guides.

Yes. Visit our GitHub repository to download and share Quick Start templates and scripts.

We welcome your feedback. Please post your comments and questions on the AWS Quick Start Discussion Forum.