Question

How to Host a Website on AWS EC2: Step-by-Step Guide

Posted on by William Zheng

Ever wondered how to put your website online without relying on expensive hosting plans? Hosting your own website on AWS EC2 gives you control, scalability, and flexibility—whether you’re launching a blog, portfolio, or business site.

Knowing how to set up a site on EC2 is a valuable skill for anyone looking to customize their web presence and understand what’s happening behind the scenes.

In this guide, you’ll learn step-by-step how to host your website on AWS EC2, with practical tips to make your launch smooth and successful.

Related Video

How to Host a Website on AWS EC2: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

Hosting your website on AWS EC2 is a fantastic way to have full control, flexibility, and scalability. Whether you’re launching your personal portfolio, a new business site, or an application, Amazon’s Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) gives you the power and reliability you need. Let’s break down the process and everything else you need to know to get your website live and thriving with AWS EC2.

What is AWS EC2 & Why Use It for Hosting?

AWS EC2, or Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud, is a web service that provides secure, resizable compute capacity in the cloud. Simply put, it lets you rent virtual servers—or “instances”—in the cloud to host websites, apps, databases, and more.

Why Choose AWS EC2 for Website Hosting?


How to Set Up an Amazon EC2 (AWS) Server to Host Your Websites - host website on aws ec2

  • Flexibility: Run virtually any website or application with customizable resources (RAM, CPU, storage).
  • Scalability: Easily scale your resources as your website grows.
  • Pay-As-You-Go: Only pay for what you use, making it cost-effective.
  • Root Control: Install any software, set configurations, or use any operating system you need.
  • Reliability: AWS’s infrastructure is robust, secure, and used worldwide.

Step-by-Step: Hosting Your Website on AWS EC2

Ready to get started? Here’s a clear, actionable path to put your website online with EC2, even if it’s your first time.

1. Create an AWS Account

  1. Go to the AWS main page and sign up for a new account.
  2. Enter your contact, payment, and verification details.
  3. Sign in to the AWS Management Console.

Tip: AWS offers a Free Tier—new users can use t2.micro (or t3.micro) EC2 instances for free for 12 months, which is ideal for small, low-traffic sites.

2. Launch a New EC2 Instance


Step-by-step guide: Creating an EC2 Instance to Host your website on AWS - host website on aws ec2

  1. In the AWS Console, navigate to the EC2 Dashboard.
  2. Click “Launch New Instance”.
  3. Choose an Amazon Machine Image (AMI):
  4. For most web servers, Ubuntu (a popular Linux distribution) or Amazon Linux is recommended.
  5. Select Instance Type:
  6. t2.micro is free-tier eligible and good for starters.
  7. Configure Instance Details:
  8. Default settings are fine for most basic websites.
  9. Add Storage:
  10. 8GB is usually enough for small sites, but upgrade as needed.
  11. Add Tags (Optional):
  12. Add name tags for easier management.
  13. Configure Security Group:
  14. Open HTTP (port 80) and HTTPS (port 443) to allow web traffic.
  15. Add SSH (port 22) but restrict to your IP address for security.
  16. Review and Launch:
  17. Select or create a new key pair. Download the key file (.pem) and keep it safe—this lets you log into your server!
  18. Click “Launch”.

Checklist:
– AMI (Ubuntu/Amazon Linux)
– Instance type (t2.micro for starters)
– Security group with HTTP, HTTPS, and SSH configured

3. Connect to Your Instance

  1. Go to your EC2 Instances dashboard.
  2. Select your instance and click “Connect”.
  3. Follow instructions for SSH access using your .pem file.

For Linux/macOS:

chmod 400 your-key.pem
ssh -i your-key.pem [email protected]

For Windows:
Use PuTTY or other SSH clients, converting the .pem to .ppk as needed.

4. Install a Web Server

You’ll need to install software that serves your website files.

Common Choices:

  • Apache: Widely used and beginner-friendly.
  • Nginx: Lightweight and efficient, great for high performance.
  • Node.js, Python, or others: If running a dynamic app.

To install Apache (on Ubuntu):

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2 -y

To install Nginx:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nginx -y

5. Upload Your Website Files

There are several ways to get your files onto your EC2 instance:

  • SCP (Secure Copy): Quickly transfer files via command line.
  • SFTP: Use tools like FileZilla for a user-friendly interface.
  • Git: If your site code is in a GitHub repository, you can git clone it directly.

Example using SCP:

scp -i your-key.pem your-website-files.zip [email protected]:~

After uploading, unzip and move files to your web server’s root directory:

sudo mv your-website-directory/* /var/www/html/
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/

6. Adjust Firewall and Security Group Settings

To make your website accessible to the world, ensure:


How to Host a Website on AWS: Step-by-Step Guide - host website on aws ec2

  • Your EC2 Security Group allows inbound traffic on HTTP (port 80) and HTTPS (port 443).
  • If testing locally, check your OS firewall (like ufw for Ubuntu) is configured:
    bash
    sudo ufw allow 'Apache Full'
    sudo ufw enable

7. Access Your Website

Open your browser and enter your EC2 instance’s public IP or DNS name (find it on the EC2 dashboard):

http://your-ec2-public-dns.amazonaws.com

If you see the Apache or Nginx welcome page (or your website!), congrats—your site is live!

8. (Optional) Connect a Domain Name

To make your site more professional, link a custom domain (yourname.com):


How to Host a Website on AWS EC2 - TheLinuxCode - host website on aws ec2

  1. Register a domain via your preferred domain provider.
  2. Go to your domain’s DNS settings.
  3. Create an “A” record pointing to your EC2 instance’s public IP address.

Tip: For dynamic IPs, consider using AWS Elastic IP (a static public IP).

9. (Optional) Set Up HTTPS with SSL Certificates

Securing your site with HTTPS is crucial. You can use Let’s Encrypt for a free SSL certificate.

Steps Overview:

  1. Install Certbot on your EC2 instance.
  2. Run Certbot to auto-configure SSL for Apache or Nginx.
  3. Regularly renew your certificate (Certbot can automate this).

Benefits of Hosting on AWS EC2


How to Host a Website Using an AWS EC2 Instance - Medium - host website on aws ec2

  • Full Control: Customize the software and environment to suit your specific needs.
  • Scalability: Upgrade your instance size as traffic increases.
  • Wide Software Compatibility: Run any web technology stack you want.
  • Geographically Distributed: Deploy instances close to your visitors for faster load times.
  • Robust Security: Configure security groups, firewalls, and more.

Challenges to Consider

  • Learning Curve: EC2 is powerful but requires more technical setup than managed hosting.
  • Maintenance: You’re responsible for server updates, patches, and monitoring.
  • Billing: You pay for what you use—so keep track to avoid unexpected charges.
  • Data Persistence: If you terminate your instance, data on it is lost unless you use EBS volumes.

Cost Tips and Best Practices

  • Stay Within Free Tier: Use t2.micro or t3.micro for the first 12 months if eligible.
  • Turn Off Unused Instances: Stop or terminate when not needed to save money.
  • Monitor Bandwidth: High traffic could incur additional fees.
  • Opt for Reserved Instances: For long-term hosting, reserved instances are cheaper than on-demand.
  • Automate Backups: Regularly back up your site files and databases to S3 or another storage service.

Practical Tips & Best Practices

  • Automate with Scripts: Use shell scripts or configuration management tools to automate setup.
  • Security First: Restrict SSH to your IP, regularly update your OS, and use strong passwords/SSH keys.
  • Monitor Logs: Check /var/log/ for errors or unusual activity.
  • Use Elastic IPs: Prevent your public IP from changing unexpectedly.
  • Scale When Needed: Upgrade instance types as your site grows.

Summary

Hosting a website on AWS EC2 gives you control, flexibility, and resilience. The process involves creating an EC2 instance, installing web server software, uploading your content, configuring network and security settings, and optionally connecting a domain and SSL certificate. While it requires more setup than shared hosting, the benefits for growth and customization are unparalleled. By following cost-saving best practices, you can run impressive sites without breaking the bank.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I host my website for free on AWS EC2?
Yes, AWS offers a Free Tier with up to 750 hours per month on a t2.micro/t3.micro instance for your first 12 months. Just be mindful of usage limits and storage to avoid unintentional charges.

2. What web server should I use: Apache or Nginx?
Both are excellent. Apache is known for ease of use and compatibility, while Nginx is faster and more efficient for high-traffic sites. For most beginners, Apache is a great start.

3. How do I keep my EC2 server secure?
– Restrict SSH access to trusted IPs only.
– Regularly update your OS and software.
– Use strong, unique passwords or SSH keys.
– Set up firewalls and security groups properly.

4. What happens if I stop or terminate my EC2 instance?
Stopping an instance keeps your data (if using persistent EBS volumes) but the public IP might change unless you use an Elastic IP. Terminating the instance deletes all data unless you’ve separately backed it up.

5. Can I host more than one website on a single EC2 instance?
Absolutely! You can configure Apache or Nginx to serve multiple domains (using virtual hosts or server blocks). Each site can have its own folder and settings, all on one server.

With this guide, you have the knowledge and the roadmap to confidently host your website on AWS EC2. Enjoy the process and the incredible scalability cloud hosting provides!

Post Views: 9