Setting up a basic Nginx webpage on AWS EC2 Instance

This guide walks through the process of deploying a simple web page using Nginx on an AWS EC2 instance, including proper setup, and best practices. It is your starter kit for future seamless deployments.

Prerequisites

• AWS account with appropriate permissions
• Basic understanding of Linux commands
• Web browser access to AWS Management Console

Step 1: Creating an EC2 Instance

1. Navigate to AWS Console
   • Go to aws.amazon.com and sign in
   • Search for "EC2" in the top search bar
   • Select "EC2" from the services list

1. Launch Instance Configuration

   • Click "Launch Instance" button
   • Enter a meaningful name for your instance
   • Select Ubuntu Server as the Amazon Machine Image (AMI)
     • Alternative: Amazon Linux 2 (uses yum instead of apt)
   • Choose instance type (t2.micro is eligible for free tier)
   • Create or select a key pair for SSH access

2. Network Security Configuration

   • Create a new security group or select existing
   • Add inbound rules:
     • HTTP (Port 80)
     • HTTPS (Port 443)
     • SSH (Port 22)
   • Configure security group name and description

Step 2: User Data Configuration

Add the following script in the user data section during instance creation. This script will automatically install and configure Nginx when the instance launches.

#!/bin/bash

# Update package lists
apt update
apt upgrade -y

# Install nginx
apt install -y nginx

# Display nginx version
nginx -v

# Start and enable nginx service
systemctl start nginx
systemctl enable nginx

# Set permissions for web root directory
chmod 2775 /var/www/html
find /var/www/html -type d -exec chmod 2775 {} \;
find /var/www/html -type f -exec chmod 0664 {} \;

# Create custom index page
echo "<h3> Welcome to DevOps Stage 0 - Ayomide/Mischief </h3>" > /var/www/html/index.html

Step 3: Launch and Verify

1. Launch the instance

   • Review all configurations
   • Click "Launch Instance"

2. Verify Deployment

   • Wait 2-3 minutes for instance to initialize
   • Copy the public IP address from instance details
   • Open a web browser and navigate to: http://54.236.249.255
   • You should see your custom welcome page

Step 4: Maintenance and Clean Up

1. Regular Maintenance

   • Regularly update system packages: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
   • Monitor system logs: sudo tail -f /var/log/nginx/access.log
   • Check Nginx status: sudo systemctl status nginx

2. Clean Up

   • Stop instance when not in use: AWS Console → EC2 → Select Instance → Instance State → Stop
   • To permanently remove: AWS Console → EC2 → Select Instance → Instance State → Terminate
   • Remember to delete associated resources (EBS volumes, Elastic IPs) to avoid charges

Troubleshooting

If the web page doesn't load:

1. Verify instance status is "running"
2. Check security group settings
3. Verify Nginx is running: sudo systemctl status nginx
4. Check Nginx error logs: sudo cat /var/log/nginx/error.log

Remember: Always terminate resources you're not actively using to avoid unnecessary AWS charges.

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