Build with Me: Launch a website on Amazon S3 | AWS Project

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of launching a static website on Amazon S3, a popular cloud storage service provided by AWS. This beginner-friendly project will help you understand how to deploy a website efficiently and cost-effectively, utilizing Amazon S3 and Route 53. By the end of this tutorial, you'll have a live website that you can customize and expand in the future.

Step 1: Set Up an AWS Account

1. Go to the AWS website.
2. Click on “Create a Free Account” and follow the prompts to set up your account.
3. Enter your payment information (you won't be charged for services covered under the free tier).
4. Verify your identity and complete the setup process.

Step 2: Create an S3 Bucket

1. Log in to the AWS Management Console.
2. Navigate to the S3 service.
3. Click on “Create bucket.”
4. Enter a unique name for your bucket (this will be part of your website URL).
5. Select the region closest to your target audience.
6. Uncheck "Block all public access" to allow public access to your website.
7. Click “Create bucket” to finish.

Step 3: Upload Your Website Files

1. Open your newly created S3 bucket.
2. Click on “Upload” and then “Add files.”
3. Select your index.html file (and any other assets needed for your site).
4. Click “Upload” to transfer the files to your S3 bucket.

Step 4: Configure Static Website Hosting

1. In your S3 bucket, go to the “Properties” tab.
2. Find the “Static website hosting” section.
3. Select “Use this bucket to host a website.”
4. Enter index.html as the index document.
5. Optionally set an error document (e.g., 404.html).
6. Save the changes.

Step 5: Set Up Bucket Policy

1. Go to the “Permissions” tab in your S3 bucket.

2. Click on “Bucket Policy.”

3. Add the following policy to allow public access to your website files:

   {
     "Version": "2012-10-17",
     "Statement": [
       {
         "Sid": "PublicReadGetObject",
         "Effect": "Allow",
         "Principal": "*",
         "Action": "s3:GetObject",
         "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::YOUR_BUCKET_NAME/*"
       }
     ]
   }
   

4. Replace YOUR_BUCKET_NAME with your actual bucket name.

5. Click “Save” to apply the policy.

Step 6: (Optional) Register a Custom Domain

1. If you want a custom domain, navigate to Amazon Route 53.
2. Choose “Domains” and then “Register Domain.”
3. Follow the prompts to select and register your domain name.
4. Set up DNS records to point your domain to your S3 bucket.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully launched a static website on Amazon S3. You can now customize your site further and explore additional AWS services to enhance its functionality. Remember to delete any resources you no longer need to avoid additional charges. As a next step, consider learning about advanced AWS features or integrating dynamic content into your website.