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Step-by-Step Instructions for Launching EC2 Instances via the AWS Console

Estimated time to read: 3 minutes

Creating an EC2 instance on AWS through the AWS Management Console is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up an EC2 instance from the console:

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating an EC2 Instance

  1. Log in to the AWS Console

    • From the AWS Management Console homepage, locate and select EC2 under the "Compute" section.

  3. Launch Instance

    • In the EC2 Dashboard, click on the Launch Instance button.

  4. Configure Basic Settings

    • Name: Give your instance a name. This is optional but can be helpful for managing instances.

  5. Select an Amazon Machine Image (AMI)

    • Choose an AMI based on your operating system requirements. Popular AMIs include:
      • Amazon Linux 2
      • Ubuntu
      • Windows Server
      • You can also use AWS Marketplace AMIs if you have specific software requirements.

  6. Choose an Instance Type

    • Select the instance type based on your resource needs (CPU, memory). Common types include:
      • t2.micro (free-tier eligible, suitable for light workloads)
      • t3.medium (for moderate workloads)

  7. Configure Instance Details

    • Network: Select a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) or keep the default VPC.
    • Subnet: Choose a subnet within the VPC, or allow AWS to choose one for you.
    • Auto-assign Public IP: If you want a publicly accessible instance, enable this option.
    • Create a New Security Group or Select an Existing One: Security groups act as firewalls for your instance.
    • Add Inbound Rules: Define rules to allow traffic. Common rules include:
      • SSH (Port 22) for Linux instances to allow secure terminal access.
      • RDP (Port 3389) for Windows instances to allow remote desktop access.
      • HTTP (Port 80) for web server access.
      • HTTPS (Port 443) for secure web traffic.
    • Ensure the rules are open to the appropriate IP addresses (e.g., your own IP for SSH).

  8. Select or Create a Key Pair*

    • Create a New Key Pair or Use an Existing Key Pair for SSH access.
    • Download the .pem file for the key pair if creating a new one. Store it securely as you won’t be able to download it again.

  9. Add Storage

    • Set the size of the root (primary) volume for your instance. For most AMIs, the default size is 8 GB.
    • Optionally, add more volumes if your application requires additional storage.

  10. Add Tags

    • (Optional) Use tags to organize and identify your instance, such as Name=WebServer or Environment=Development.

  11. Review and Launch

    • Review your configurations to ensure everything is set as desired.
    • Click Launch to proceed.

  12. Launch the Instance

    • Click on Launch Instances. AWS will start provisioning the instance.
    • Click on View Instances to go to the EC2 Dashboard and monitor the instance's launch status.