aws-drawio-architecture-diagrams

name	aws-drawio-architecture-diagrams
description	Creates professional AWS architecture diagrams in draw.io XML format (.drawio files) using official AWS Architecture Icons (aws4 library). Use when the user asks for AWS diagrams, VPC layouts, multi-tier architectures, serverless designs, network topology, or draw.io exports involving Lambda, EC2, RDS, or other AWS services.
metadata	{"author":"giuseppe-trisciuoglio"}

AWS Architecture Diagram Creation with Draw.io

Overview

Creates pixel-perfect AWS architecture diagrams in draw.io XML format using official AWS4 shape library. Generates production-ready .drawio files for diagrams.net.

When to Use

• AWS cloud architecture diagrams (VPC, subnets, services)
• Multi-tier application architectures on AWS
• Serverless designs (Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB)
• Network topology diagrams with security groups
• Infrastructure documentation for Well-Architected reviews

Instructions

File Structure

Every .drawio file follows this XML structure:

<mxfile host="app.diagrams.net" agent="Claude" version="24.7.17">
  <diagram id="aws-arch-1" name="AWS Architecture">
    <mxGraphModel dx="1434" dy="759" grid="1" gridSize="10" guides="1"
      tooltips="1" connect="1" arrows="1" fold="1" page="1"
      pageScale="1" pageWidth="1169" pageHeight="827" math="0" shadow="0">
      <root>
        <mxCell id="0" />
        <mxCell id="1" parent="0" />
        <!-- AWS shapes and connectors -->
      </root>
    </mxGraphModel>
  </diagram>
</mxfile>

Key rules:

• IDs "0" and "1" are reserved for root cells
• Use sequential integer IDs starting from "2"
• Landscape orientation (pageWidth="1169" pageHeight="827")
• All coordinates positive and aligned to grid (multiples of 10)

AWS4 Group Containers

Groups use container=1 with child shapes referencing via parent="groupId".

AWS Cloud (top-level boundary):

<mxCell id="2" value="AWS Cloud" style="points=[[0,0],[0.25,0],[0.5,0],[0.75,0],[1,0],[1,0.25],[1,0.5],[1,0.75],[1,1],[0.75,1],[0.5,1],[0.25,1],[0,1],[0,0.75],[0,0.5],[0,0.25]];outlineConnect=0;gradientColor=none;html=1;whiteSpace=wrap;fontSize=12;fontStyle=0;shape=mxgraph.aws4.group;grIcon=mxgraph.aws4.group_aws_cloud_alt;strokeColor=#232F3E;fillColor=none;verticalAlign=top;align=left;spacingLeft=30;fontColor=#232F3E;dashed=0;labelBackgroundColor=none;container=1;pointerEvents=0;collapsible=0;recursiveResize=0;" vertex="1" parent="1">
  <mxGeometry x="100" y="40" width="1000" height="700" as="geometry" />
</mxCell>

Region:

<mxCell id="3" value="us-east-1" style="...grIcon=mxgraph.aws4.group_region;strokeColor=#00A4A6;fontColor=#147EBA;dashed=1;..." vertex="1" parent="2">
  <mxGeometry x="20" y="40" width="960" height="640" as="geometry" />
</mxCell>

VPC:

<mxCell id="4" value="VPC (10.0.0.0/16)" style="...grIcon=mxgraph.aws4.group_vpc;strokeColor=#8C4FFF;fontColor=#AAB7B8;..." vertex="1" parent="3">
  <mxGeometry x="20" y="40" width="920" height="580" as="geometry" />
</mxCell>

Subnet styles:

• Public: strokeColor=#7AA116;fillColor=#E9F3D2;fontColor=#248814
• Private: strokeColor=#00A4A6;fillColor=#E6F6F7;fontColor=#147EBA

AWS4 Service Icons

Service icons use shape=mxgraph.aws4.resourceIcon with resIcon property.

CRITICAL: strokeColor=#ffffff is required for resourceIcon shapes to render white icon glyphs on colored backgrounds.

Standard service icon:

<mxCell id="10" value="Amazon S3" style="...gradientColor=#60A337;gradientDirection=north;fillColor=#277116;strokeColor=#ffffff;...shape=mxgraph.aws4.resourceIcon;resIcon=mxgraph.aws4.s3;" vertex="1" parent="1">
  <mxGeometry x="100" y="100" width="60" height="60" as="geometry" />
</mxCell>

Dedicated shapes (Lambda, ALB, Users) use strokeColor=none. See references/aws-shape-reference.md for complete shape catalog.

Service Color Codes

Each AWS service category uses official colors. All resourceIcon shapes must use strokeColor=#ffffff and gradientDirection=north. See references/aws-shape-reference.md for full color table.

Quick reference:

Category	fillColor	gradientColor	Services
Compute	#D05C17	#F78E04	EC2, ECS, EKS, Fargate
Storage	#277116	#60A337	S3, EBS, EFS, Glacier
Database	#3334B9	#4D72F3	RDS, DynamoDB, Aurora, Redshift
Networking	#5A30B5	#945DF2	CloudFront, Route 53, API GW
Security	#C7131F	#F54749	IAM, Cognito, KMS, WAF
App Integration	#BC1356	#F54749	SQS, SNS, EventBridge

Connector Styles

Standard data flow:

edgeStyle=orthogonalEdgeStyle;rounded=0;orthogonalLoop=1;jettySize=auto;html=1;endArrow=open;endFill=0;strokeColor=#545B64;strokeWidth=2;

Encrypted connection:

edgeStyle=orthogonalEdgeStyle;rounded=0;orthogonalLoop=1;jettySize=auto;html=1;endArrow=classic;endFill=1;strokeColor=#DD344C;strokeWidth=2;dashed=1;dashPattern=5 5;

Async/event flow:

edgeStyle=orthogonalEdgeStyle;rounded=0;orthogonalLoop=1;jettySize=auto;html=1;endArrow=open;endFill=0;strokeColor=#E7157B;strokeWidth=2;dashed=1;

Layout Best Practices

1. Hierarchy: External → Internet → AWS Cloud → Region → VPC → Subnets → Services
2. Flow: Left-to-right for user traffic, top-to-bottom for tiers
3. Sizes: Service icons 60x60, grid-aligned coordinates
4. Spacing: 30-40px between icons, 20px padding inside containers
5. Labels: Place below icons (verticalLabelPosition=bottom)

Examples

Three-Tier Architecture

User Request: "Create AWS three-tier architecture with VPC, public ALB, private EC2, RDS across 2 AZs."

Generated Output:

<mxfile host="app.diagrams.net" agent="Claude" version="24.7.17">
  <diagram id="three-tier-1" name="Three-Tier Web App">
    <mxGraphModel dx="1434" dy="759" grid="1" gridSize="10" guides="1" tooltips="1" connect="1" arrows="1" fold="1" page="1" pageScale="1" pageWidth="1169" pageHeight="827" math="0" shadow="0">
      <root>
        <mxCell id="0" />
        <mxCell id="1" parent="0" />
        <mxCell id="2" = = = =>
          
        
        
          
        
        
          
        
        
          
        
        
          
        
        
          
        
        
          
        
        
          
        
        
          
        
        
          
        
        
          
        
        
          
        
        
          
        
      
    
  

Opening Instructions:

Open in draw.io with AWS libraries enabled:
https://app.diagrams.net/?libs=aws4

Serverless API Architecture

User Request: "Create serverless architecture with API Gateway, Lambda, DynamoDB, S3 for REST API."

Generated Output: XML with API Gateway (violet), Lambda (orange), DynamoDB (blue), S3 (green). See references/aws-architecture-templates.md for complete template.

Reference Files

See references/ directory:

• aws-shape-reference.md - Complete AWS4 shape catalog with styles for 50+ services
• aws-architecture-templates.md - Ready-to-use templates (3-tier, serverless, data pipeline)

Constraints and Warnings

Validation Workflow

Always follow this validation checklist before saving:

1. Generate XML - Create complete .drawio file structure
2. Validate ID uniqueness - Ensure all IDs are unique integers (0, 1 reserved)
3. Check parent references - Verify all parent attributes reference existing cells
4. Verify XML well-formedness - Close all tags, escape special chars (&→&, <→<)
5. Test in draw.io - Open at https://app.diagrams.net/?libs=aws4
6. Fix rendering issues - Adjust positions if elements overlap or render incorrectly

Critical Constraints

1. XML well-formed: Invalid XML fails to open. Close all tags, escape special characters, use <br> for line breaks.

2. ID uniqueness mandatory: IDs "0" and "1" reserved. All others must be unique integers from "2". Duplicates cause loading failures.

3. Coordinate system: All coordinates positive integers, multiples of 10 for grid alignment.

4. AWS4 library only: Use official mxgraph.aws4.* shapes. Legacy mxgraph.aws3.* not supported.

5. Valid parent references: Parent must reference existing cell ID. Invalid refs cause elements to disappear.

Limitations

• No dynamic layouts - Manual adjustment may be needed for complex diagrams
• Single page only - Multi-page requires multiple <diagram> elements
• No auto-routing - Rearranging elements requires manual edge adjustment

Security Considerations

• No sensitive data - Avoid real IPs, ARNs, or resource IDs in labels
• Review before sharing - XML exposes architecture details
• Validate templates - Review XML before production documentation

Best Practices

1. Use official AWS4 shapes (mxgraph.aws4.*)
2. Follow AWS service category colors
3. Nest properly: AWS Cloud → Region → VPC → Subnet → Services
4. Label services, CIDR blocks, ports, protocols
5. Show data flow direction with labeled arrows
6. Include external actors (users, corporate DC)
7. Keep diagrams focused (15-20 icons max)
8. Add annotations for important notes ("Multi-AZ", "Auto Scaling")
9. Validate all IDs unique and parent references exist

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