Setting up Virtual Private Server(VPS) on AWS EC2

Recently, I wanted to experiment with blockchain. Instead of setting up a VM on my Macbook, I decided to set up a VPS on cloud instead. I have tried Digital Ocean before. A comparison between AWS and Digital Ocean concludes that Digital Ocean is cheaper as a IaaS. However, I will like to learn how to use AWS which is more popular generally as a PaaS.

AWS is available for free during the first year on the free tier. For more information, check out the details here.

1. Download and install VNC Viewer
   
   
2. Create a EC2 instance on AWS (Credits: Creativevisions) Since the instructions are pretty clear on the linked site, I will summarise the steps for setting up an EC2 instance.
   • Launch an instance from EC2 dashboard
   • Choose an Amazon Machine Image (AMI). I chose Ubuntu but whichever suits ur needs will do.
   • Configure your instance security group to include SSH, HTTP/HTTPS.
   • Finally, launch it.
   • Upcoming prompt of key pair, give your key pair a name and download the key-pair.pem in a secure location.
   • Take note of your public IP and DNS.
     
     
3. Set up Ubuntu GUI on your VPS Credits: Arafat Khan
   • SSH into instance.

     cd <dir key-pair.pem>
     chmod 400 <key-pair.pem>
     ssh -i key-pair.pem ubuntu@<your public dns>
     

     Note that the -i flag refers to identity file.

   • Update and install packages

     sudo apt-get update
     sudo apt-get upgrade
     sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop gnome-panel gnome-settings-daemon 
     metacity nautilus gnome-terminal xfce4 vnc4server
     

   • Start vncserver in console

     vncserver
     

   • Modify VNC Configuration

     vi ~/.vnc/xstartup
     

     Replace contents with the following:

     #!/bin/sh
     # Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
     unset SESSION_MANAGER
     # exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
     unset DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS
     startxfce4 &
     [ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
     [ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
     xsetroot -solid grey
     vncconfig -iconic &
     gnome-panel &
     gnome-settings-daemon &
     metacity &
     nautilus &
     gnome-terminal &
     

   • Logout of instance and login using port forwarding.

     ssh -L 5902:localhost:5902 -i key-pair.pem ubuntu@<public DNS>
     

   • Start a new vncserver

     vncserver -geometry 1920x1080
     

     
     
     

4. Connect to localhost on port 5902 on VNC viewer.

That’s all.