From Zero to Cloud Hero: AWS part-1

Welcome to the First Part of the comprehensive guide on Amazon Web Services (AWS)! AWS is a powerful cloud platform that provides a vast array of services to help businesses and individuals build and manage applications in the cloud. In this part, we’ll cover the basics of getting started with AWS, including setting up your account, navigating the AWS Management Console, understanding the AWS Free Tier, launching your first EC2 instance, and storing data with S3. Let’s dive in!

Setting Up Your AWS Account

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Visit the AWS Website:

• Go to the AWS homepage.

2. Create an AWS Account:

• Click on the “Create an AWS Account” button.
• Enter your email address and choose a password.
• Provide your contact information and payment details.
• Select your support plan (basic support is free).

3. Verify Your Identity:

• AWS will ask you to verify your identity by providing a phone number.
• Enter the verification code sent to your phone.

4. Log In to Your Account:

• Once your account is set up, log in using your email and password.

Navigating the AWS Management Console

AWS Console Home

The AWS Management Console is your gateway to AWS services. Here’s how to navigate it:

1. Dashboard:

Upon logging in, you’ll land on the AWS Management Console dashboard. This is your central hub for accessing all AWS services.

2. Services Menu:

• At the top of the page, you’ll see a “Services” menu. Click on it to see a list of all available AWS services organized by category (e.g., Compute, Storage, Database).

3. Search Bar:

• Use the search bar at the top of the console to quickly find specific services or resources.

4. Account Settings:

• Click on your account name in the top-right corner to access account settings, billing information, and security credentials.

Understanding the AWS Free Tier

The AWS Free Tier allows you to use certain AWS services for free, up to specified limits, for the first 12 months. It’s a great way to explore and experiment with AWS without incurring costs. Key services included in the Free Tier:

• Amazon EC2: 750 hours per month of t2.micro or t3.micro instances.
• Amazon S3: 5 GB of standard storage.
• Amazon RDS: 750 hours per month of db.t2.micro or db.t3.micro instances.
• AWS Lambda: 1 million free requests per month.

Launching Your First EC2 Instance

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) provides scalable virtual servers in the cloud. Follow these steps to launch your first EC2 instance:

1. Navigate to EC2 Dashboard:

• From the Services menu, select “EC2” under the Compute category.

2. Launch Instance:

• Click the “Launch Instance” button.

3. Choose an Amazon Machine Image (AMI):

• Select an AMI, which is a pre-configured template for your instance. For this guide, choose the “Amazon Linux 2 AMI”.

4. Choose an Instance Type:

• Select an instance type. For Free Tier eligibility, choose “t2.micro” or “t3.micro”.

5. Configure Instance Details:

• Accept the default settings or customize as needed. For beginners, the default settings are usually sufficient.

6. Add Storage:

• Configure your storage options. The default settings should be fine for a basic setup.

7. Configure Security Groups:

• Security groups act as a virtual firewall. Create a new security group and add rules to allow SSH (port 22) access.

8. Review and Launch:

• Review your settings and click “Launch”.
• Choose an existing key pair or create a new one to connect to your instance. Download the key pair file (keep it secure).

9. Connect to Your Instance:

• Once your instance is running, select it from the EC2 dashboard.
• Click the “Connect” button and follow the instructions to connect via SSH using the key pair file.

Available Instances

Storing Data with S3

Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) provides scalable object storage. Here’s how to create a bucket and store data:

1. Navigate to S3 Dashboard:

• From the Services menu, select “S3” under the Storage category.

2. Create a Bucket:

• Click the “Create Bucket” button.
• Enter a unique name for your bucket and select a region.
• Configure any additional settings as needed and click “Create”.

3. Upload Data:

• Select your new bucket and click the “Upload” button.
• Add files or folders from your computer and click “Upload” again.

4. Manage Permissions:

• Set permissions for your objects to control who can access them. You can make objects public or restrict access to specific users.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve taken the first steps to get started with AWS. You’ve learned how to set up your AWS account, navigate the AWS Management Console, understand the AWS Free Tier, launch your first EC2 instance, and store data with S3. These foundational skills will serve as the building blocks for your journey into the AWS cloud.

Stay tuned for the next parts of this series, where we’ll dive deeper into core AWS services and advanced topics.

For more insightful blogs and tutorials, follow Shivam Maurya on Medium. Happy learning!