AWS Certified Developer – Associate (DVA-C02)DeploymentMedium

A developer is building a serverless application using AWS Lambda and Amazon API Gateway. They need to implement a blue/green deployment strategy for their Lambda function to minimize downtime and provide an easy rollback mechanism. How can this be achieved using existing AWS services?

  1. AImplement a custom script to replicate the Lambda function, test it, and then update DNS records to point to the new version.
  2. BManually create two separate Lambda functions (blue and green) and update the API Gateway integration to switch between them.
  3. CUse an AWS CodeDeploy blue/green deployment group targeting the Lambda function directly.
  4. DUtilize Lambda aliases and API Gateway stages, configuring CodeDeploy to shift traffic between alias versions.
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D. Utilize Lambda aliases and API Gateway stages, configuring CodeDeploy to shift traffic between alias versions.

Lambda aliases combined with API Gateway stages provide a robust blue/green deployment strategy for serverless applications. CodeDeploy can automate the traffic shifting between different versions associated with the Lambda alias, ensuring a controlled and gradual rollout with easy rollback capability.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Updating DNS for Lambda functions is not a standard or efficient blue/green strategy, and managing custom scripts adds complexity.
  • B. Manual switching is error-prone, lacks automation, and doesn't provide gradual traffic shifting or easy rollback.
  • C. CodeDeploy for Lambda doesn't use 'deployment groups' in the same way as EC2; it works with aliases.

Lambda Aliases & API Gateway Stages for Blue/Green

A deployment pattern for serverless applications where Lambda aliases manage different function versions, and API Gateway stages point to these aliases, enabling controlled traffic shifting for blue/green deployments.

  • Lambda aliases provide stable endpoints for specific function versions.
  • API Gateway stages link to Lambda aliases for environment management.
  • CodeDeploy can automate traffic shifting between alias versions for blue/green deployments.

Memory trick: Aliases are the versions, Stages are the gates, CodeDeploy shifts the flow.

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