The instance metadata service explained
Source: interviewintermediate
WHAT IT TESTS: cloud-native configuration and credential handling. OUTLINE: a local endpoint exposing instance identity, region, and temporary role credentials.
WHAT IT TESTS: whether you know how instances discover their own identity and obtain credentials without hardcoding. ANSWER OUTLINE: the metadata service is a link-local endpoint reachable only from the instance that returns metadata like instance ID, region, AZ, network info, user-data, and crucially temporary credentials for the attached IAM role. Apps query it to self-configure and to get rotating keys.
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- #instance-metadata
- #iam
- #credentials
- #imdsv2
- #cloud-native
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