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A cloud administrator aims to privately connect two cloud server instances located in separate Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs) on Amazon Web Services (AWS). What configuration should be used to facilitate this connection without involving an internet gateway?

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To privately connect two cloud server instances located in separate Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs) on AWS without involving an internet gateway, the cloud administrator should utilize VPC Peering or AWS Transit Gateway. Let's explore these options:

1. VPC Peering

  • Overview: VPC Peering allows you to create a direct network route between two VPCs. Instances in the peered VPCs can communicate with each other as if they are in the same network, using private IP addresses.
  • Configuration Steps:
    1. Create a VPC Peering Connection:
      • Go to the VPC dashboard in the AWS Management Console.
      • Create a VPC Peering Connection from the VPC of the first cloud server to the VPC of the second cloud server.
    2. Accept the Peering Connection:
      • The owner of the receiving VPC must accept the peering connection.
    3. Update Route Tables:
      • Edit the route tables for both VPCs to route traffic destined for the other VPC through the VPC peering connection.
    4. Security Groups:
      • Ensure that the security groups associated with the instances allow inbound and outbound traffic from/to the IP CIDR range of the other VPC.

2. AWS Transit Gateway

  • Overview: AWS Transit Gateway acts as a central hub that interconnects multiple VPCs and on-premises networks. This is especially useful if you have more than two VPCs or an evolving network architecture.
  • Configuration Steps:
    1. Create a Transit Gateway:
      • Navigate to the AWS Transit Gateway service and create a new transit gateway.
    2. Attach VPCs to the Transit Gateway:
      • Attach the VPCs to the Transit Gateway by creating attachments for each VPC.
    3. Update Route Tables:
      • Modify the route tables of the VPCs to point routes for the other VPC's CIDR block to the transit gateway.
    4. Security Groups:
      • Ensure that the security groups are configured correctly to allow traffic between the VPCs.

Additional Considerations:

  • Network CIDR: Ensure that the CIDR blocks of both VPCs do not overlap.
  • Costs: Be aware of any potential costs associated with data transfer over VPC Peering or Transit Gateway.
  • NAT Gateway: If instances in private subnets need to access the internet, a NAT Gateway can be used in conjunction with these solutions, but the actual communication between VPCs will remain private.

By following either of these configurations, the cloud administrator can successfully connect the two cloud server instances in separate VPCs without the need for an internet gateway.