How To Build Amazon EC2 Windows Instance

Overview

Create a new windows server instance in AWS Environment. In this guide we will only create the instance and access it via administrator account. Also, we will utilize “Free Tier only”.

Applies To

AWS, Windows 2012 Server

Pre-Requisites

Active AWS Account

User Login who have access to create Instance

Configure Security Group for access RDP (port 3389)

Create Instance

In order to access and login to the windows server, you need to Launch EC2 windows instance, configure security group for accessing the server.

Launching instance will would create the server, hostname has to be configured and server components and features can be configured only after logging into the server.
In case you have disabled automatic Elastic IP Address assignment after the instance is launched, release the EIP and associate it to the instance ID. Only then public you will be able to access it from public domain.

Launch Instance

First step towards creating the new server (instance), you need “Launch Instance” from the service click on “EC2” option in the Amazon EC2 Dashboard, click on “Instances”. When you launch it for the first time no instances will be listed. Any instance that’s built will be visible to the specific region only.
Currently “N. Virginia” region is the cheapest of all the regions.
Note: Servers can be built in any region based on your requirement, cost and lastly nearest region to your location.

Choose Instance

From the list of different “Amazon Machine Image (AMI)”, choose the windows version that you intend to launch. In this guide we will build “Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Base” Image. Click on “Select” button.

Choose Instance Type

After you have chosen the “AMI”, next step is to choose the “Instance Type”, which is construed as “vCPU, Speed and Memory” for the instance, select it as per the business needs. Click on “Next: Configure Instance Details” button.

Configure Instance Details

Next step is to configure the “Instance Details”, which is construed as “Number of Instances, Network, subnet” for the instance. Click on “Next: Add Storage” button.

Configure Add Storage

Next step is to configure the “Storage” for the server, configure it as needed by business. Click on “Next: Add Storage” button.

Note: With free tier, you can choose a max of “30 GB” size disk for the system.

Tag Instance

Next step is to “Tag” instance and it case-sensitive tagging for the server, type “key” and the key “value” for the instance. Click on “Next: Configure Security Group” button.

Configure Security Group

Next step is to configure “Security Group” for the instance, to create new security group choose “Create Security Group” and set “security group name” and “Description” for the security group. And “Add Rule” as needed. Click on “Review and Launch” button.

Note: For windows server RDP port “3389” rule should be added, source can be anywhere or your IP network IP Address (choose option accordingly).

Review and Launch

Next step is to review the option chosen of the server / instance. Validate it as configured earlier and click on “Launch” button.

Select key pair or Create a new key pair

Next step is to create a new key pair or select existing keep pair. If you have already generated the key pair then select the key pair and click on “Launch Instances” button.
Note: If key pair was not created, create new key pair, download key pair and click “Launch Instances” button.

Launch Status

Once you have clicked on “Launch” button in the earlier step, Launch status log will be shown, click on the log file to view the current status of instance launch steps.

Get Windows Password

In order to login to the windows server administrator password has to be retrieved, after the instance is built and instance “Status Check” is passed. Select the instance, choose “Actions” and click on “Get Windows Password”.

Retrieve Default Administrator Password

Once you choose “Get Windows Password” option from the previous step, you will have to choose the key pair file associated with the instance “Key Name” displayed and click on “Decrypt Password” button.

Password Decryption

After decrypting the key pair instance public IP, User name and Password will be displayed make note password for login into the server.

Launch RDP Connection

After retrieving the password, you can login with the credentials displayed. Launch RDP session of the server and enter “Public IP Address” of the server instance and click on “Connect” button.

RDP Login

After connecting on to the server enter the user as “administrator” and password as “password retrieved from decryption” of the server instance and press enter key. You should be able to login to the server successfully.

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How To Build Amazon EC2 Windows Instance on AWS Enviroment from VCP Muthukrishna