Having a hard time understanding the difference between Availability Zones and Data Centers. AWS explains it clearly; Azure, not so much. So here is what I understand: A region contains multiple AZs. Within each AZ are DCs. But the explanations I am seeing about AZs leads me to believe that AZs are infact DCs. Any clarification will be appreciated.
5 Answers
Hi,
I think this covers it quire well. – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/availability-zones/az-overview
Think of it this way.
Lets say you built a new AZ somewhere and you are not sure how busy it would be. So you build your datacenter with maybe 20% spare capacity.
Then it get s popular. What to do ?
a) tear it down and start over ?
b) buy the site across the road and build another datacenter ?
The answer is b). And when that starts to fill up. rinse and repeat.
I hope that helps
Rusty
Coach & Moderator
When in doubt always check the vendor doco. 🙂
So, when you built that DC initially, you did not know that it will become an AZ?
I am a bit confused also, AWS explained this well about their REGION and their AZ. It seems that in AZURE they use a same terminology by naming their DCs and location, but the explanation is confusing. Here is my understanding, Azure Region is a set of DC that are close enough to each other (meaning its a physical DCs???). Then inside their Region there is a AZ, it should be 2 or 3 AZs within a REGION? is it right?
Some one please can explain more clearly. 🙂 Thanks!
AWS and Azure terminology are the same and have the same logic for the most part. An Availability Zone (AZ) contains one or more Data Centres (DC’s) and a region contains two or more AZ’s. Depending on the region depends on how many AZ’s are in it, as that region becomes more popular for AZ’s get added to meet demand and to provide better availability for customers who utilise multiple AZ’s.
Here is a good link for your reference: https://www.smikar.com/azure-vs-aws-iaas-resilience/
Google cloud defines Regions are independent geographic areas that consist of (availability) zones.
Questions are also wrong.
1) What is an availability zone?
CORRECT? – One or more datacenters equipped with independent power, cooling, and networking.
WRONG? – One of more datacenters that are close together to provide backup.
2) What is an Azure region?
CORRECT? – A set of datacenters close together.
WRONG? – One or more datacenters equipped with independent power, cooling, and networking.
To my understanding, from above replies and AWS and what is written in the answers, it would mean that availability zones are exactly same as a region.
Whereas availability zone == datacenter, region == set of availability zones == set of datacenters? Or I am also wrong?
AWS and Azure terminology are the same and have the same logic for the most part. An Availability Zone (AZ) contains one or more Data Centres (DC’s) and a region contains two or more AZ’s. Depending on the region depends on how many AZ’s are in it, as that region becomes more popular for AZ’s get added to meet demand and to provide better availability for customers who utilise multiple AZ’s. Also, DC’s are located close to each other so that connectivity is quick and latency is as low as possible. Here is a good link for your reference: "https://www.smikar.com/azure-vs-aws-iaas-resilience/"