How to launch an EC2 instance

The intent is to show how to quickly launch your first EC2 instance.

Step 1 : Choose the type of instance

• Navigate to EC2 in the AWS Console.
• Click Launch Instance.
• Select a free-tier elegible Linux image, in doubt select Amazon Linux 2.
• Click Next - leave the Instance Type panel as is.
• Click Next - leave the Instance Details panel as is.
• Click Next - leave the Storage panel as is.
• Click Add Tag. Set key to Name and value to the name you choose to your instance. (Optional step)
• Click Next.

Step 2 : Create a Security Group

• Assign a security group: Create a new security group
• Set the security group name and description as you choose.
• SSH connection for Linux instances
  • Type: SSH
  • Protocol: TCP
  • Port Range: 22
  • Source: My IP
  • Description: (optional)
• RDP connection for Windows instances
  • Type: RDP
  • Protocol: TCP
  • Port Range: 8003
  • Source: My IP
  • Description: (optional)
• You can add as much rules as needed.
• Click Review and Launch.
• Click Launch.

Step 3 : Create a Key Pair

• Select: Create a new key pair
• Set the key pair name as you choose.
• Click Download Key Pair
• Click Launch Instances

Step 4 (for Linux instances) : Connect to instance using SSH

• Back to EC2 Instances panel in the AWS Console.
• Select the instance.
• Click Connect.
• Connection method: A standalone SSH client

For MacOS and Linux users:

• Change the keypair file permissions to Only Owner Read/Write as follows:

chmod 400 my-key-pair.pem

Or, if you are using Windows:

• File - Properties - Security - Advanced
• Set Owner to the key's user
• Remove all users, groups, and services, except for the key's user, under Permission Entries
• Set key's user to Full Control

At the SSH client of your choice, input the details provided.

• User name
• Target

ssh -i my-key-pair.pem user@server-public-dns

Example:

ssh -i "linux-lab.pem" ubuntu@ec2-52-90-153-75.compute-1.amazonaws.com

Step 4 (for Windows instances) : Connect to instance using RDP

• Back to EC2 Instances panel in the AWS Console.
• Select the instance.
• Click Connect.
• Connection method: A standalone RDP client
• At the RDP client of your choice, input the details provided.
• Target: Public DNS
• User name Administrator
• Password:
  • Click Get Password
  • Key Pair Path: Click Browse to select the keypair downloaded on the previous step.
  • Click Decrypt Password
• Connect.

Done! :)