From Local to Live: Deploying My Landing Page on AWS with SSL

Hey dev community! Today I'm excited to share my journey of deploying a landing page on AWS EC2, complete with SSL certification and a custom domain. Let's dive into the detailed process from server provisioning to the final deployment.

Project Overview

I created a landing page using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, all contained in a single file. The goal was to deploy it securely on AWS EC2 and make it accessible through HTTPS. Here's how I made it happen.

Server Provisioning on AWS EC2

The first step was setting up the server infrastructure:

1. Creating the EC2 Instance

   • Logged into AWS Management Console
   • Selected Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS as the AMI
   • Chose t2.micro instance type (perfect for the free tier!)
   • Set up security groups to allow inbound traffic on ports:
     • Port 80 (HTTP)
     • Port 443 (HTTPS)
     • Port 22 (SSH)

2. Server Access

   • Connected to the server using SSH with my key pair
   • Used the command: ssh -i my-aws-key.pem ubuntu@3.84.13.68
   • Elevated to root privileges using sudo -i for easier management

Setting Up the Web Server

The next crucial step was installing and configuring Apache:

1. Apache Installation

   • Updated the server packages
   • Installed Apache web server
   • Verified the installation by checking Apache's status
   • Enabled Apache to start automatically on boot

2. Project Deployment

   • Created a dedicated directory for the project
   • Downloaded the project files from GitHub
   • Installed necessary tools (like unzip)
   • Moved the files to Apache's root directory
   • Restarted Apache to apply changes

Domain Configuration and SSL Setup

This part was exciting - making the site secure and professional:

1. Domain Setup

   • Purchased the domain 'osagieanolu.engineer' from name.com
   • Linked my EC2 instance's IP address to the domain
   • Set up proper DNS records

2. SSL Certificate Installation

   • Installed Snapd package manager
   • Used Certbot for SSL certificate generation
   • Configured automatic certificate renewal
   • Set up a cron job for renewal checks twice daily

The Secret Sauce: Certbot Configuration

The SSL setup was particularly interesting. Certbot made the process surprisingly straightforward:

1. Installation Process

   • Installed Certbot via Snap
   • Used the Apache plugin for automatic configuration
   • Followed the interactive prompts for domain verification

2. Automation Setup

   • Configured automatic renewals
   • Verified the certificate installation
   • Set up quiet renewal processes to avoid notification spam

Challenges and Solutions

During the deployment, I faced several challenges:

1. Permission Issues

   • Initially struggled with file permissions in /var/www/html/
   • Resolved by properly setting ownership and access rights

2. DNS Propagation

   • Had to wait for DNS changes to propagate
   • Used DNS lookup tools to verify changes

3. Apache Configuration

   • Needed to adjust Apache's default configuration
   • Ensured proper virtual host setup for SSL

Final Results

The deployment was successful!

Key Takeaways

This project taught me several valuable lessons:

1. Always Plan Ahead

   • Having a clear deployment strategy saves time
   • Document each step for future reference

2. Security First

   • SSL is crucial for modern web applications
   • Regular certificate renewal is essential

3. Monitoring is Important

   • Regular checks of server status
   • Monitoring SSL certificate expiration

Next Steps

Future improvements I'm considering:

1. Setting up a CDN for better performance
2. Implementing server monitoring tools
3. Adding backup automation
4. Optimizing Apache configuration for better performance

For Those Following Along

If you're planning a similar deployment, here are some tips:

• Double-check all security group settings
• Keep your SSH key secure
• Document your server configuration
• Test your SSL setup thoroughly

Conclusion

Deploying a landing page on AWS with SSL might seem daunting at first, but breaking it down into steps makes it manageable. The combination of AWS EC2, Apache, and Certbot provides a robust foundation for hosting secure web applications.

Have you deployed any projects on AWS recently? What challenges did you face? Let's discuss in the comments below!

---