AWS EC2 Series – Part 1: EC2 Dashboard Deep Dive
Tags: aws, ec2, cloud, devops, infrastructure
Overview
Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) is the backbone of AWS compute services.
The EC2 Dashboard is your main console for managing EC2 instances, images, storage, security, and network components.
Mastering the dashboard is essential before diving into instances, AMIs, networking, and auto-scaling.
1. What is the EC2 Dashboard?
The EC2 Dashboard provides a centralized view of all EC2 resources in a specific AWS region. It allows you to:
- Launch, stop, or terminate instances.
- Monitor the status of instances and associated resources.
- Manage storage volumes, snapshots, and security groups.
- Track AWS events affecting your EC2 infrastructure.
Think of it as the control tower for your virtual servers and related resources.
2. Key Components of the EC2 Dashboard
Resource Summary
Displays counts of running instances, volumes, security groups, Elastic IPs, and key pairs.
Launch Instance Button
Shortcut to create new EC2 instances using predefined AMIs and instance types.
Events & Notifications
Alerts for scheduled maintenance, system updates, or instance retirement.
Quick Access Panels
Links to AMIs, Volumes, Snapshots, Security Groups, Load Balancers, and Auto Scaling Groups.
Region Selector
Ensures you are viewing resources in the correct AWS Region — crucial when managing multi-region deployments.
3. Common Issues and Solutions
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Instances not visible | Wrong region selected | Switch to the correct region in the top-right corner |
| Unexpected instance stop | Billing issues, scheduled retirement | Check Events and ensure billing is active |
| Missing access to resources | IAM permissions missing | Request appropriate IAM policy (e.g., AmazonEC2FullAccess) |
4. Hands-On Guide: Exploring the EC2 Dashboard
Objective: Familiarize yourself with EC2 Dashboard components and navigation.
Step 1:
Log in to your AWS Management Console and navigate to EC2 → Dashboard.
Step 2:
Observe the Resource Summary. Take note of:
- Running instances
- EBS volumes
- Security groups
Step 3:
Use the Region Selector to switch between regions and see how your resources vary.
Step 4:
Click on Events to review system notifications such as upcoming maintenance or instance retirement.
Step 5: Launch a small test EC2 instance:
- Click Launch Instance
Choose Amazon Linux 2 AMI
Select t2.micro (Free Tier eligible)
Configure default VPC and subnet
Attach a key pair for SSH access
Launch and verify the instance appears in the dashboard
Step 6:
Explore other quick-access sections like Volumes, Security Groups, and Load Balancers.
5. Best Practices for Dashboard Usage
- Always verify the region before launching resources.
- Regularly check Events to avoid unexpected downtime.
- Use tags for instances and resources to simplify management.
- Combine the dashboard view with CloudWatch for monitoring metrics and alarms.
- Leverage IAM roles to restrict dashboard access according to the principle of least privilege.
6. Interview Questions
Basic:
- What is the EC2 Dashboard and why is it important?
- Why is the region selector critical when managing EC2 resources?
Intermediate:
- How do you monitor AWS maintenance events for your EC2 instances?
- What is the difference between instance status and system status checks?
Advanced:
- How can you replicate the dashboard view using AWS CLI or SDKs?
- How do IAM policies affect visibility and access on the EC2 Dashboard?
7. Summary
The EC2 Dashboard is your first stop for managing AWS compute resources.
By understanding its layout, components, and functionality, you can:
- Launch and manage EC2 instances efficiently.
- Monitor health and system events proactively.
- Control access securely through IAM.
- Lay the foundation for advanced EC2 topics like auto-scaling, networking, and monitoring.
Next in the Series:
👉 EC2 Global View – Managing Multi-Region EC2 Resources at a Glance
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