How Do I Deploy AWS Web Server?

Deploying a web server on AWS can seem like a daunting task, but with the right steps and guidance, it can be accomplished smoothly. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the process of deploying an AWS web server step by step.

Step 1: Create an EC2 Instance

To start, you need to create an Amazon EC2 instance. This is where your web server will be hosted.

Follow these steps:

1. Login to your AWS Management Console.
2. Navigate to the EC2 service.
3. Click on “Launch Instance” to create a new instance.
4. Select the desired Amazon Machine Image (AMI) for your web server. Popular choices include Amazon Linux, Ubuntu Server, and Windows Server.
5. Select the instance type based on your requirements. For example, t2.micro is a cost-effective option for low-traffic websites.
6. Configure the instance details such as network settings, security groups, and storage options.
7. Create or use existing key pairs for SSH access to your instance.
8. Review the configuration and click on “Launch” to start the instance.

Step 2: Connect to Your Instance via SSH

To connect to your EC2 instance using SSH:

1. Open your preferred terminal application or use AWS CloudShell from the AWS Management Console.
2. Navigate to the directory where you have your private key file.
3. Run the SSH command with the following syntax:

ssh -i <private-key-file> ec2-user@<public-ip-address>

Note: Replace <private-key-file> with the path to your private key file and <public-ip-address> with the public IP address of your EC2 instance.

Step 3: Install and Configure Web Server Software

Next, you need to install and configure web server software on your EC2 instance. Here’s how:

Nginx:

1. Update the package manager: sudo apt update.
2. Install Nginx: sudo apt install nginx.
3. Start Nginx service: sudo systemctl start nginx.
4. (Optional) Enable Nginx to start on boot: sudo systemctl enable nginx.
5. (Optional) Configure firewall settings to allow HTTP traffic: 
   
sudo ufw allow 'Nginx HTTP'


Apache HTTP Server:

1. (Optional) Update the package manager: 
   
sudo apt update

2. Install Apache: sudo apt install apache2.
3. Start Apache service: sudo systemctl start apache2.
4. (Optional) Enable Apache to start on boot: sudo systemctl enable apache2.
5. (Optional) Configure firewall settings to allow HTTP traffic: 
   
sudo ufw allow 'Apache'


Step 4: Test Your Web Server

Your web server is now up and running. You can test it by accessing the public IP address or domain name associated with your EC2 instance in a web browser.

Nginx:

If you installed Nginx, enter the following URL in your browser:

http://<public-ip-address>/

Apache HTTP Server:

If you installed Apache, enter the following URL in your browser:

http://<public-ip-address>/

Congratulations!

You have successfully deployed a web server on AWS using EC2 instances. Remember to secure your server, configure DNS settings, and optimize performance for production environments.

We hope this tutorial was helpful in guiding you through the process of deploying an AWS web server. Happy coding!