Deploying an EC2-Based Web Server: A Practical Guide

Problem Statement: When deploying a web application, developers often require a reliable and scalable web server. Hosting a website or web application on AWS EC2 is a common solution, but configuring the web server properly can be challenging for beginners. The goal of this project is to set up an EC2 instance, install Apache or Nginx, and ensure it serves web content efficiently. Debugging Challenges During the deployment process, several issues may arise: SSH Connection Issues: Misconfigured security groups or incorrect key pairs may prevent SSH access. Package Installation Failures: Package repositories may be outdated, requiring updates before installation. Service Not Starting: Apache or Nginx might fail to start due to incorrect permissions, missing dependencies, or conflicts. Firewall Restrictions: If the firewall or security group settings are misconfigured, the web server might not be accessible. File Path Issues: The default web directory may vary depending on the web server, leading to content not being served correctly. Solution Approach Step 1: Launch an EC2 Instance Navigate to AWS Management Console → EC2. Click Launch Instance and configure: o Name: MyWebServer o AMI: Amazon Linux 2 or Ubuntu o Instance Type: t2.micro (Free Tier eligible) o Key Pair: Create or use an existing key pair. o Security Group: Allow SSH (22) and HTTP (80) traffic. Click Launch. Step 2: Connect to the EC2 Instance Open a terminal and run: ssh -i your-key.pem ec2-user@your-instance-public-ip (For Ubuntu, use ubuntu instead of ec2-user)

Mar 26, 2025 - 18:09

Deploying an EC2-Based Web Server: A Practical Guide

Problem Statement:

When deploying a web application, developers often require a reliable and scalable web server. Hosting a website or web application on AWS EC2 is a common solution, but configuring the web server properly can be challenging for beginners. The goal of this project is to set up an EC2 instance, install Apache or Nginx, and ensure it serves web content efficiently.

Debugging Challenges

During the deployment process, several issues may arise:

SSH Connection Issues: Misconfigured security groups or incorrect key pairs may prevent SSH access.
Package Installation Failures: Package repositories may be outdated, requiring updates before installation.
Service Not Starting: Apache or Nginx might fail to start due to incorrect permissions, missing dependencies, or conflicts.
Firewall Restrictions: If the firewall or security group settings are misconfigured, the web server might not be accessible.
File Path Issues: The default web directory may vary depending on the web server, leading to content not being served correctly.

Solution Approach

Step 1: Launch an EC2 Instance

Navigate to AWS Management Console → EC2.
Click Launch Instance and configure:
o Name: MyWebServer
o AMI: Amazon Linux 2 or Ubuntu
o Instance Type: t2.micro (Free Tier eligible)
o Key Pair: Create or use an existing key pair.
o Security Group: Allow SSH (22) and HTTP (80) traffic.
Click Launch.

Step 2: Connect to the EC2 Instance
Open a terminal and run:

ssh -i your-key.pem ec2-user@your-instance-public-ip

(For Ubuntu, use ubuntu instead of ec2-user)