• Linux: The operating system that runs the server.

• Apache: The web server software that delivers web pages to users.

• MySQL: The database management system that stores and retrieves data for the website.

• PHP: The programming language used to create dynamic web content.

Sequential guide:

Step 1: Navigate to Amazon Lightsail

Start by logging into your Amazon Lightsail account. Choose a region that is closest to your geographical location for optimal performance. Linux is the default platform, which is ideal for running a LAMP stack due to its open-source compatibility.

Step 2: Select LAMP (PHP) Blueprint:

In the Lightsail dashboard, select the LAMP (PHP) blueprint. This pre-configured blueprint will set up your LAMP stack on your instance automatically.

Step 3: Building it with a Launch Script:

To set up your LAMP stack application, use the following launch script:

# remove default website
#-----------------------
cd /opt/bitnami/apache2/htdocs 
rm -rf *

# clone github repo
#------------------
git clone -b loft https://github.com/mikegcoleman/todo-php .

# set write permissions on the settings file
#-----------------------------------
sudo chown bitnami:daemon connectvalues.php
chmod 666 connectvalues.php

# inject database password into configuration file
#-------------------------------------------------
sed -i.bak "s/<password>/$(cat /home/bitnami/bitnami_application_password)/;" /opt/bitnami/apache2/htdocs/connectvalues.php

# create database
#----------------
cat /home/bitnami/htdocs/data/init.sql | /opt/bitnami/mariadb/bin/mysql -u root -p$(cat /home/bitnami/bitnami_application_password)

Summary of the Code:

1. Remove Default Website:

   Clear out the default website files from the Apache web directory.

cd /opt/bitnami/apache2/htdocs 
rm -rf *

2. Clone GitHub Repository:

   Clone the loft branch of the GitHub repository into the Apache web directory.

git clone -b loft https://github.com/mikegcoleman/todo-php .

3. Set Write Permissions on the Settings File:

   Adjust the permissions of the connectvalues.php file to ensure it is writable.

sudo chown bitnami:daemon connectvalues.php
chmod 666 connectvalues.php

4. Inject Database Password into Configuration File:

   Replace the placeholder <password> in the configuration file with the actual password.

sed -i.bak "s/<password>/$(cat /home/bitnami/bitnami_application_password)/;" /opt/bitnami/apache2/htdocs/connectvalues.php

5. Create Database:

   Set up the database using the SQL script.

cat /home/bitnami/htdocs/data/init.sql | /opt/bitnami/mariadb/bin/mysql -u root -p$(cat /home/bitnami/bitnami_application_password)

Step 4: Select Instance Size, Name Your Instance, and Create:

Choose the instance size that fits your needs; the $5 option is a popular choice. Name your instance and click “Create.” Optionally, add tags such as APP -> Todo to help organize and identify your instance.

Step 5: Access LAMP Stack Application:

Once your instance is up and running, access your LAMP stack application by navigating to your instance’s public IP address in your browser. You’ll see the todo application where you can add tasks, set their severity, and mark them as complete or incomplete.

You’ve successfully deployed a LAMP stack application on Amazon Lightsail. By following this guide, you’ve set up a powerful and flexible web environment, configured it with a launch script, and deployed a functional todo application.

This setup not only demonstrates the ease and efficiency of Amazon Lightsail but also provides a robust foundation for further web development projects.

Enjoy exploring and expanding your new LAMP stack application!

What is Amazon Lightsail?

Amazon Lightsail is a cloud service that makes it easy to launch and manage virtual servers, storage, and networking. It's perfect for quickly setting up websites, web apps, and other simple cloud-based projects.

Comprehensive walkthrough:

Step 1: Navigate to Amazon Lightsail

Start by logging into your Amazon Lightsail account. Choose a region that is closest to your geographical location for optimal performance. Linux is the default platform, which is ideal for running Drupal due to its open-source compatibility.

Step 2: Select Drupal Blueprint

Once you’re in the Lightsail dashboard, find and select the Drupal blueprint. This pre-configured blueprint will set up Drupal on your instance automatically, saving you time and effort.

Step 3: Choose Your Instance Size and Name

Pick an instance size that suits your needs. The $5 option is a popular choice for most users, offering a good balance of resources and affordability. Give your instance a memorable name, then click on “Create” to launch your Drupal instance.

Step 4: Access and Open Drupal

After your instance is created, copy the public IP address of your instance and paste it into your browser’s address bar. Navigate to the login page by adding /user/login to the end of the URL.

Step 5: Open Instance Terminal

Go back to your Lightsail dashboard, select your instance, and open the terminal. In the terminal, use the command cat bitnami_application_password to retrieve the unique password for your Drupal installation.

Step 6: Enter Credentials

On the Drupal login page, use user as the username and the unique password you copied from the terminal. This will log you into your Drupal site, where you can start creating content and customizing your site.

Step 7: Drupal Dashboard Panel

Now that you’re logged in, you can add articles, select themes, and explore the various functionalities of Drupal.

Below is one of my first articles from Hashnode:

You have successfully launched a Drupal instance using Amazon Lightsail. With the Drupal dashboard open, you can now start adding articles, selecting themes, and exploring the myriad functionalities that Drupal offers.

This powerful combination of Amazon Lightsail's simplicity and Drupal's flexibility ensures that you can manage your website efficiently and effectively.

Happy site building!

Launch an EC2 Instance on AWS

Initiate the creation of an EC2 instance on AWS, assigning it a unique name. Choose a Linux (Ubuntu) image, select a free tier t2.micro instance, and configure a key-value pair for secure connectivity.

Key-Value Pair Configuration:

A key-value pair is essential for secure connections to other servers. Name it appropriately based on your usage.

• For Linux connections, use a .pem file.

• For Windows connections, use a .ppk (PuTTY) private key format.

Upon creation, the key-value pair file will be downloaded locally to your machine.

Connect to the Linux Instance:

Follow the necessary steps to establish a connection to your Linux instance.

Step 2: Install Jenkins on Your AWS EC2 Instance

Update Your System

First, ensure your system is up-to-date:

sudo apt update

Install Java

Since Jenkins is written in Java, installing Java on your instance is crucial:

sudo apt install openjdk-11-jre

Validate Installation

Verify the Java installation:

java -version

You should see something like this:

openjdk version "11.0.12" 2021-07-20
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 11.0.12+7-post-Debian-2)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 11.0.12+7-post-Debian-2, mixed mode, sharing)

Install Jenkins

To install Jenkins, you need to add its key and Debian package repository. Copy and paste the following commands into your terminal:

Add Jenkins Key and Debian Package

curl -fsSL https://pkg.jenkins.io/debian/jenkins.io.key | sudo tee \
/usr/share/keyrings/jenkins-keyring.asc > /dev/null

echo deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/jenkins-keyring.asc] \
https://pkg.jenkins.io/debian binary/ | sudo tee \
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/jenkins.list > /dev/null

Update System and Install Jenkins

Finally, update your system again and install Jenkins:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install jenkins

Step 3: Start Jenkins

To start Jenkins and ensure it runs persistently even after a system restart, follow these commands:

Enable Jenkins Service:

sudo systemctl enable jenkins

Note: systemctl (system controller) allows Jenkins to continue running even after a restart or if an instance is destroyed.

Start Jenkins Service:

sudo systemctl start jenkins

Check Jenkins Service Status:

sudo systemctl status jenkins

Step 4: Configure Jenkins Port and Access

Jenkins runs on port 8080 by default. To access Jenkins, you'll need to configure your EC2 instance's security group to allow inbound traffic on this port.

Add Inbound Rule:

1. Navigate to the EC2 Dashboard.

2. Select your EC2 instance.

3. Click on the "Security" tab, then "Security Groups".

4. Select the security group associated with your instance.

5. Click "Edit inbound rules".

6. Add a new rule with the following settings:

   • Type: Custom TCP

   • Port Range: 8080

   • Source: My IP (for restricted access) or Anywhere (for open access)

Access Jenkins:

Open your web browser and enter the following URL, replacing <Public_IP> with your EC2 instance's public IP address:

http://<Public_IP>:8080

Example:

http://13.244.4342:8080

This will bring you to the Jenkins setup screen, where you can continue with the initial configuration.

Step 5: Access Jenkins Dashboard and Initial Setup

1. Jenkins Window Opens:

After starting Jenkins, the Jenkins window will open in your web browser. You will be prompted to enter an initial password to unlock Jenkins.

To retrieve the initial password:

• Copy the URL shown in red from the Jenkins window.

• Use the command below to display the content containing the password:

    sudo cat /var/lib/jenkins/secrets/initialAdminPassword
  

2. Jenkins Install Plugins:

After entering the initial password, proceed with the following steps:

• Install Recommended Plugins: Jenkins will provide options to install recommended plugins. Select this option to proceed.

• Create First Admin User: You will be prompted to create the first administrative user for Jenkins. Enter the username, password, and other required details.

3. Create a New Item:

Once Jenkins is set up, create your first project:

• Click on "Create new jobs" or "New Item" to create a new project.

• Choose "Freestyle project" to create a flexible, custom project.

Conclusion

Setting up Jenkins on an AWS EC2 instance empowers you with a robust continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) platform. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you've learned how to:

1. Launch an EC2 Instance: Start by creating an EC2 instance with Ubuntu Linux, ensuring it's equipped with Java to support Jenkins.

2. Install Jenkins: Install Jenkins on your EC2 instance, configure its initial setup, and secure access through proper firewall rules.

3. Configure Jenkins: Start Jenkins, install recommended plugins, and create your first administrative user to begin managing your projects.

4. Utilize Jenkins: Explore the flexibility of Jenkins by creating a new project and setting up a freestyle project for customized workflows.

By leveraging Jenkins, you can streamline your development processes, automate builds, and enhance collaboration within your team.