ICT171 Cloud Infrastructure Handbook

Project Overview

This website demonstrates the deployment of a cloud-based Linux web server using Amazon Web Services Elastic Compute Cloud (AWS EC2). The project focuses on Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) technologies and demonstrates the setup, configuration, and management of a remotely hosted server environment.

The EC2 instance acts as a virtual machine that replaces traditional physical hardware. The server is configured through command-line administration tools and hosts a website accessible through a public IP address and domain name.

This project demonstrates several core concepts including:

Virtual Machines

Using AWS EC2 as a scalable cloud-hosted server environment.

Linux Administration

Managing Ubuntu Linux using SSH and command-line tools.

Web Hosting

Hosting a website using Apache web server software.

Networking

Using public IP addressing, DNS, and firewall configuration.

Cloud Architecture

The following workflow explains how the server infrastructure operates:

User enters the domain name or public IP address into a browser.
DNS resolves the domain name to the AWS EC2 public IP address.
The browser sends a request over HTTP/HTTPS.
The AWS EC2 Linux server receives the request.
Apache web server processes the request and serves the HTML website.

Client Browser ↓ Domain Name / Public IP ↓ AWS EC2 Instance ↓ Ubuntu Linux Server ↓ Apache Web Server ↓ Website Content

Server Deployment Guide

Step 1 — Launch EC2 Instance

An Ubuntu EC2 instance was created using AWS. A security key pair (.pem file) was generated to allow secure SSH access.

Step 2 — Connect via SSH

ssh -i yourkey.pem ubuntu@15.135.7.226

Step 3 — Update Linux Packages

sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 4 — Install Apache Web Server

sudo apt install apache2 -y

Step 5 — Start Apache

sudo systemctl start apache2 sudo systemctl enable apache2

Step 6 — Create Website

sudo nano /var/www/html/index.html

Step 7 — Restart Apache

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Domain Name and DNS Configuration

A domain name was registered using Namecheap and configured to point toward the AWS EC2 public IP address using DNS A records.

DNS Example

Type: A Host: @ Value: 15.135.7.226 TTL: Automatic

This configuration allows users to access the website using a human-readable domain name rather than a numerical IP address.

Security Configuration

Basic server security was implemented using AWS Security Groups and Ubuntu firewall configuration.

Allowed Ports

Port 22

Secure Shell (SSH) remote administration.

Port 80

HTTP web traffic.

Port 443

HTTPS secure encrypted traffic.

Firewall Commands

sudo ufw allow 22 sudo ufw allow 80 sudo ufw allow 443

Project Proposal

This project aims to implement a cloud-based Linux web server using Amazon Web Services Elastic Compute Cloud (AWS EC2). The objective is to demonstrate Infrastructure as a Service deployment through the configuration and management of a remote virtual machine environment.

The project focuses on developing practical server administration skills including Linux command-line management, web hosting, firewall configuration, SSH access, and DNS integration. Apache web server software is used to host a website that documents the infrastructure deployment process and explains the underlying cloud concepts.

This project serves to familiarize users with cloud infrastructure principles such as virtualization, scalable deployments, public IP addressing, and remote administration. The AWS EC2 instance replaces traditional physical server hardware while allowing flexible and adaptable deployment of applications and services.

Future improvements include implementing HTTPS encryption, adding live monitoring tools, and integrating automated backup systems. These enhancements would improve reliability, scalability, and overall system security.

License Rationale

This project uses the MIT License because it is a permissive open-source license that allows others to use, modify, and distribute the project freely. The license encourages collaboration and educational reuse while still protecting the original author through limitation of liability. Since this project is focused on demonstrating cloud infrastructure deployment and Linux server administration, the MIT License provides a suitable balance between openness and simplicity.

MIT License

MIT License Copyright (c) 2026 Student 36059227 Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies.