View source for AWS Lightsail + NodeJS

== Overview ==

This tutorial will cover using AWS Lightsail as a cheap and easy alternative to EC2 for hosting a server in AWS.

== Materials/Prerequisites ==

This tutorial assumes you have an AWS account already. If you do not, go ahead and create an AWS account [https://portal.aws.amazon.com/billing/signup#/start here]

== Process ==

=== About Lightsail ===

Lightsail is essentially a simplified version of AWS EC2- there are fewer server tiers, a simplified pricing model, and more preconfigured server distrobutions than EC2.

=== Spin up a Lightsail Instance ===

Navigate to '''Services > Lightsail'''

Click ''' Create Instance'''

Leave the availability zone to default. Ensure that your platform is '''Linux/Unix''', and then select the '''Node.js''' bluprint in the '''App + OS''' blueprint section.

Ensure you select the cheapest price per month instance, since you shouldn't need anything larger than that.

Finally, give your instance a unique name and click '''Create'''.

Your instance may take some time to spin up. Once it's finished, click on it to open its settings.

You'll notice that you have a '''Public IP'''. If you enter it into the browser, you should see a page by bitnami of some sort- congratulations, you've successfully spun up a server.

=== Configure Static IP ===

By default, your IP address will change whenever the server reboots. To change this, we will 
create a static IP for our instance. navigate to the '''Networking''' tab of your instance, and under '''IP Addresses > Public IP''' click '''Create static IP'''.

Finally, go back to your instance's main page and click '''Connect using SSH''. This will open a browser session SSHing into your instance.

The first time, you should update and upgrade all your server's packages. In your SSH terminal, run '''sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y'''.

=== Getting your code running on the server ===

Basically, just follow the instructions here: https://medium.com/@sharmasha2nk/aws-lightsail-bitnami-nodejs-letsencrypt-cf653573b8a1

== Authors ==

Ethan Shry, Fall 2018

== Group Link ==

N/A

== External References ==

N/A

[[Category:HowTos]]
[[Category:Web_Development]]