In today’s digital era, having a fast, reliable, and secure web hosting solution is essential for any business or developer. Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides one of the most powerful platforms for hosting websites through its EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) service. With EC2, you can launch virtual servers, configure storage, and host applications with unmatched scalability. If you’re new to cloud hosting, don’t worry – this guide will walk you through the process of easily deploying and hosting a website on AWS EC2 Linux.
Step 1: Create an AWS Account and Access EC2
To get started, visit the AWS website and create an account. You’ll need to provide basic details and payment information. Once your account is set up, log in to the AWS Management Console.
Navigate to Services → EC2 under the “Compute” section. EC2 lets you create virtual machines known as instances that act as your website’s server.
Step 2: Launch a New EC2 Instance
Click “Launch Instance” to begin setting up your virtual server.
- Choose an Amazon Machine Image (AMI): Select a Linux-based AMI like Amazon Linux 2 or Ubuntu Server.
- Choose an Instance Type: For beginners or testing, the t2.micro instance is ideal since it’s part of AWS’s free tier.
- Configure Key Pair: Create a key pair (a .pem file) that you’ll use later to securely connect to your instance. Download it and keep it safe.
After finalizing your configuration, click “Launch Instance.” AWS will create your server in a few minutes.
Step 3: Connect to Your Instance via SSH
Once your EC2 instance is running, connect to it using your terminal or command prompt.
Use the following command (replace with your actual file and IP address):
ssh -i "your-key.pem" ec2-user@your-public-ip
For Ubuntu AMI users, replace ec2-user with ubuntu.
If the connection is successful, you’ll have access to your Linux server’s command line.
Step 4: Install a Web Server (Apache or Nginx)
To host a website, you need a web server. You can choose between Apache and Nginx.
For Apache:
sudo yum update -y
sudo yum install httpd -y
sudo systemctl start httpd
sudo systemctl enable httpd
For Nginx:
sudo apt update -y
sudo apt install nginx -y
sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx
Once installed, visit your instance’s public IP in a web browser. You should see the default Apache or Nginx welcome page, confirming your server is live.
Step 5: Upload Your Website Files
Now it’s time to upload your website files to the server.
You can use SCP (Secure Copy Protocol) or FileZilla to transfer your HTML, CSS, PHP, or JavaScript files to the web directory.
For Apache, upload your files to:
/var/www/html/
Replace the default index.html file with your own.
Once done, refresh your browser, and your website should now be visible online!
Step 6: Configure Security and Permissions
By default, AWS EC2 restricts incoming traffic. Go back to your EC2 Dashboard → Security Groups and edit inbound rules.
Add a new rule to allow HTTP (port 80) and HTTPS (port 443) traffic.
This ensures visitors can access your site over the web.
Step 7: Add a Domain Name and SSL
To make your website more professional, connect a custom domain.
You can purchase one from any domain registrar and point it to your EC2 instance’s Elastic IP address.
For security, install a free SSL certificate using Let’s Encrypt:
sudo yum install certbot python-certbot-apache -y
sudo certbot --apache
Follow the prompts to enable HTTPS for your website.
Check Also:-
- AWS Cloud Hosting
- AWS Cloud Hosting In India
- AWS Cloud Hosting Services
- Amazon Web Services
- Amazon Web Services in India
- Amazon Web Server Hosting
- Amazon Web Hosting Service
Final Thoughts
Hosting a website on AWS EC2 Linux may sound technical, but with the right steps, it’s straightforward and powerful. You gain full control over your server environment, scalable resources, and enterprise-level security, all at a reasonable cost.
Whether you’re launching a personal blog, business site, or web application, AWS EC2 offers the flexibility and reliability to grow with your needs. Start deploying your website today and experience the power of cloud hosting with AWS.
