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Updating CloudFormation Stacks with Direct Updates and Change Sets

In this hands-on lab, we will walk through proper ways to update CloudFormation stacks. We will first update a stack with direct updates and then use change sets to update a stack. In the process, we will create multiple change sets and view the behavior of the stack when a change set is applied.

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Labs

Path Info

Level
Clock icon Intermediate
Duration
Clock icon 1h 0m
Last updated
Clock icon May 31, 2025

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Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Deploy a LAMP Stack Using an AWS CloudFormation Template

    • Navigate to the CloudFormation console to create the stack.
    • Upload the LAMP stack template provided with the lab and create the stack.
    • Change* InstanceType* to t3.micro.
    • Select your VPC and two subnets in the template.

      Note: You will need to create a key pair in the EC2 console before you can deploy the template.

    • Once it is deployed, check the CloudFormation outputs for the DNS name of the load balancer.
    • Copy the URL into a browser to verify the sample site has deployed correctly.

  2. Challenge

    Use an Update Stack to Scale Up

    • In the CloudFormation console, using the same template, update the stack and change the instance type from t3.micro to t3.medium on the Parameters page.
    • Using the load balancer URL, verify that our server comes up and the site becomes available once more.

  3. Challenge

    Use a Change Set to Scale Out

    • In the CloudFormation console, upload the changeset.yaml template to add a second server in another subnet and ensure that it is added to the load balancer.
    • View and then execute the change set.
    • Once it is finished, use the load balancer DNS name to confirm the site is up and running.
Pluralsight Skills - Labs - Pluralsight
Author
Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

What's a lab?

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Provided environment for hands-on practice

We will provide the credentials and environment necessary for you to practice right within your browser.

Guided walkthrough

Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!

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On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you get time for practice.
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