t2.micro crashing whenever I access with VScode

0

Hello, I would appreciate any help on this.

So I am using the t2.micro tier and plan to change the instance later on. I have been sshing from VScode with no problem, until a few days back it just stopped working. If I connect to the server on VScode and open a github repo the server crashes.Enter image description here
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The CPU usage is hitting 100% probably being the cause of the crash. Why is it suddenly not working normaly anymore? (One thing I think I did that might cause this behavior is I installed python debugging extension in VSCode. Could this be it?...) Please Help

asked a month ago58 views
1 Answer
1

The issue you're experiencing with your t2.micro instance crashing when accessing it through VSCode is likely related to the instance's CPU usage hitting 100%. This behavior is characteristic of t2 instances, which use a credit-based system for CPU performance.

T2 instances, including t2.micro, are designed with a baseline CPU performance and the ability to burst above that baseline by consuming CPU credits. When these credits are depleted, the instance's CPU performance drops to the baseline level, which can cause significant slowdowns or even crashes if the workload demands more resources.

The sudden change in behavior you've noticed could be due to a combination of factors:

  1. Accumulated workload: Over time, your instance may have depleted its CPU credits, leaving it unable to handle spikes in demand.

  2. New software or extensions: The Python debugging extension you installed in VSCode could be contributing to increased CPU usage, especially if it's running background processes or performing intensive operations when you connect.

  3. Opening a GitHub repo: This action might be triggering resource-intensive operations like indexing or searching, which could push the CPU usage to its limit.

To address this issue, you could try the following:

  1. Monitor your CPU credit balance and usage to understand if you're consistently exceeding the baseline performance.

  2. Consider upgrading to a larger instance type that can handle your workload more consistently.

  3. Optimize your development environment and workflows to reduce CPU usage. This might include disabling unnecessary extensions or configuring them to use fewer resources.

  4. If possible, add some swap space to your instance to help manage memory usage, which can indirectly affect CPU performance.

  5. Review any recent changes to your development setup or instance configuration that might be causing increased resource usage.

Remember that while t2.micro instances are cost-effective, they're not always suitable for development work that requires consistent performance, especially when using resource-intensive tools like IDEs with remote connections.
Sources
EC2 Ubuntu T2.micro seems to be maxing CPU during application installation | AWS re:Post
Troubleshooting Node.js App Downtime on EC2 t2.micro After Updates | AWS re:Post

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