Introduction

In this blog, I’ll walk you through a Level 2 AWS project where we build a scalable web application using AWS core services. Whether you're new to AWS or looking to solidify your understanding, this guide will help you get hands-on with services like VPC, EC2, IAM, S3, and ALB.

Resources

If you prefer a detailed, step-by-step practical implementation, check out my YouTube tutorial here. The video covers every step of the process, from setting up the VPC to deploying the web server and configuring the load balancer. You can also follow along with the AWS Workshop Link for a self-paced learning experience.

Architecture Overview

Here’s an overview of what we’ll build:

  • VPC: A virtual network to host our resources securely.
  • EC2: A web server to host our application.
  • IAM: Role-based access control for secure resource management.
  • ALB: An Application Load Balancer to distribute traffic.
  • S3: Cloud storage for static assets.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Setting Up Networking (VPC)

We started by creating a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) with public and private subnets across two Availability Zones. This ensures our resources are isolated and secure.

2. Resource Security (Security Groups)

Next, we created Security Groups to control inbound and outbound traffic. One group allows HTTP traffic from the internet, while the other restricts access to the web server.

3. Access Management (IAM)

We configured an IAM Role with the necessary permissions for our EC2 instance to interact with other AWS services securely.

4. Deploying Compute (EC2)

Using Amazon EC2, we launched a web server in the private subnet. We also used User Data to automate the installation of a PHP web server.

5. Administering the Web Server (SSM)

We connected to the EC2 instance securely using AWS Systems Manager (SSM), eliminating the need for SSH keys or public IPs.

6. Load Balancing (ALB)

To distribute traffic, we set up an Application Load Balancer (ALB) that routes incoming HTTP requests to our web server.

7. Testing and Scaling

Finally, we tested the web application and explored scaling options using Auto Scaling Groups (optional challenge).

Clean Up

Don’t forget to clean up your resources to avoid unnecessary charges! Terminate the EC2 instance, delete the ALB, and remove any unused resources.

Conclusion

By following this guide, you’ve built a scalable and secure web application on AWS. This project is a great way to get hands-on experience with core AWS services and understand how they work together.

If you face any issues, feel free to reach out to me directly on LinkedIn.
The YouTube video provides a detailed, step-by-step practical implementation of this workshop, making it easier to follow along and implement the project yourself.

Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions in the comments below! Happy building! 🚀

Author Of article : Tapas SInghal Read full article