Walkthrough Guide: Setting Up WOUSB APP on AWS

When I embarked on the journey of setting up WOUSB APP on AWS, I made sure to chronicle each step to assist others. Here's how I approached it:

1. Starting with AWS Setup:

a. AWS Account:

First, I signed up for an AWS account. As soon as I got access, I prioritized my security by enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). It gave me peace of mind knowing my account had an extra layer of protection.

b. IAM (Identity and Access Management):

I navigated to the IAM dashboard to set the groundwork for a secure environment. I created IAM roles tailored for specific tasks and users. I granted only the permissions necessary for each role. I made it a rule: never use the root account for day-to-day tasks.

2. Journey with EC2 (Virtual Server):

a. Creating the EC2 Instance:

To kick things off, I launched a new EC2 instance. After a bit of research, I selected the instance type that matched my app's requirements. During the instance details configuration, I ensured it was associated with a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC). I allocated storage based on my app's needs and set up security groups, strictly allowing only essential ports (like 80 and 443).

b. Accessing the EC2 Instance:

For secure access, AWS prompted me to use a key pair. Once I downloaded the private key, I kept it safe, knowing its importance. To connect, I used:

ssh -i /path/to/private-key.pem ec2-user@my-ec2-ip-address

3. Configuring DNS with Route 53:

I wanted my app to have a professional touch, so I navigated to Route 53 and created a hosted zone for wousb.app. Here, I added the necessary records - an A record for the main domain and a CNAME for subdomains, making sure they all pointed to the correct resources.

4. Thinking Ahead: Backup & Recovery:

a. Amazon Machine Images (AMI):

Being a fan of foresight, I created AMIs of my EC2 instance periodically. This way, I knew I always had a backup to revert to if necessary.

b. Data Backups:

For data, I leveraged AWS S3 for backups, setting up automated tasks so I wouldn't have to do it manually.

5. Load Balancing & Future-Proofing:

Expecting a growing user base, I set up an Application Load Balancer (ALB) in front of my EC2 instances. I also explored Auto Scaling Groups to ensure the app would scale based on demand.

6. The Database Adventure:

I weighed the pros and cons of relational vs. non-relational databases. Ultimately, I chose Amazon RDS for my needs. I made sure to set up automated backups for the database too, ensuring no data loss.

7. Keeping an Eye Out with Monitoring & Alerts:

Last but not least, I set up Amazon CloudWatch. It acted like my watchtower, monitoring the app's health and performance. I also configured CloudWatch Alarms, so if anything went amiss, I'd be the first to know.

Setup and Configuration of AMI Backup and Recovery

An Amazon Machine Image (AMI) from an EC2 instance will include all the configuration settings and files of the LAMP stack on the instance. The AMI will contain a snapshot of the instance's EBS volume, including the operating system, applications, and data. When you launch a new instance from the AMI, it will have the same configuration and data as the original instance, including the LAMP stack.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind when creating an AMI from an EC2 instance:

The AMI will include all the data on the instance's EBS volume, including temporary files, log files, and cached data. You should remove any sensitive or unnecessary data before creating the AMI.

If you have dynamic data that changes frequently, such as a database or user-generated content, you should consider using a separate data store, such as Amazon RDS or Amazon S3, instead of storing it on the instance's EBS volume. This will prevent data loss and ensure that your data is always available, even if the instance fails.

If you have specific security settings or customizations on your EC2 instance, such as firewall rules or SSH access, you will need to configure these settings on the new instance after launching it from the AMI.

Overall, creating an AMI is a fast and efficient way to create templates of your EC2 instances, including the LAMP stack and its configuration files. It can save time and effort when launching multiple instances with the same configuration, and it can be a useful tool for testing, development, and disaster recovery.