How to get started with AWS EC2

· Category: Cloud Computing

Short answer

AWS EC2 provides resizable compute capacity in the cloud. Launch an instance via the console or CLI.

Steps

  1. Choose an AMI (Amazon Machine Image) like Amazon Linux or Ubuntu.
  2. Select an instance type (t3.micro for free tier).
  3. Create or select a key pair for SSH access.
  4. Configure a security group allowing SSH (port 22) and HTTP (port 80).
  5. Launch and connect:
ssh -i key.pem ec2-user@public-ip

Tips

  • Use IAM roles instead of embedding credentials on instances.
  • Enable detailed monitoring for production workloads.
  • Terminate unused instances to avoid charges.

Common issues

  • Security group too restrictive blocks SSH or HTTP.
  • Instance limits: request a quota increase if needed.