How to Create EC2 Instance in AWS: Step by Step Tutorial

ByUppala Vijay Kumar (PhD)UpdatedJun ,2023

1. Sign in to the AWS Management Console: Go to the AWS Management Console (https://console.aws.amazon.com) and sign in to your AWS account.

2. Navigate to the EC2 Dashboard: Once logged in, navigate to the EC2 service from the AWS Management Console. You can find it under the "Compute" category.

3. Launch Instance: On the EC2 dashboard, click the "Launch Instance" button to start the instance creation process.

4. Choose an Amazon Machine Image (AMI): Select the AMI that corresponds to the operating system and software configuration you desire. AWS provides a range of pre-configured AMIs for different purposes.

5. Choose an Instance Type: Select the instance type based on your requirements for CPU, memory, storage, and network performance. Each instance type has specific capabilities and pricing.

6. Configure Instance Details: Configure the instance settings such as the number of instances, network settings, security groups, and storage options. You can choose an existing VPC or create a new one, specify subnet, enable public IP, and configure other advanced options.

7. Add Storage: Specify the storage requirements for your instance. You can select the size and type of the root volume, attach additional EBS volumes, and configure storage-related settings.

8. Add Tags (Optional): You can add tags to your instances for better organization and management. Tags are key-value pairs that provide metadata for your resources.

9. Configure Security Group: Set up security groups to control inbound and outbound traffic for your instance. Define rules to allow or deny specific protocols, ports, and IP ranges.

10. Review Instance Details: Review the configuration details of your instance, including AMI, instance type, network settings, storage, and security group rules. Ensure everything is as per your requirements.

11. Configure Key Pair: Choose an existing key pair or create a new one. This key pair will be used to securely connect to your EC2 instance. Download the private key file (.pem) and keep it secure.

12. Launch Instance: After reviewing the instance details, click on the "Launch" button to create your EC2 instance.

13. Select an Existing Key Pair or Create a New Key Pair: If you selected a key pair in the previous step, a dialog box will appear asking you to confirm the use of the key pair. Select the key pair and check the acknowledgement box. Then click "Launch Instances".

14. View Instances: Once the instance is launched, you'll be directed to the "Instances" view. Here, you can see the status of your instance, such as pending, running, or stopped.

Congratulations! You have successfully created an EC2 instance in AWS. You can now connect to your instance, install software, configure it according to your needs, and utilize its computing resources.