Getting Started with AWS Cloud9: Launching an Amazon EC2 Instance and Running Python

In our example, we will make an instance with Amazon linux. Our script will create an EC2 instance.
When making a cloud9 instance, by default we already have a security group and subnets created. For the new instances we will use this data, but feel free to use the ones you prefer and need.

Cloud9 is already integrated with amazon linux and you don’t need to enter your credentials for it to work. If you’re on a remote server or computer, you’ll need to enter your AWS account credentials.

For our script we used a ready-made image. You can create a new instance and make a new image in the EC2 panel. Then go to AMI and use the id of the machine you created.

AWS instances use a key for access. In the EC2 dashboard, go to security and click on key pairs. Create a new key and save it in a safe place or use an existing one. Keys are used to access machines by terminal. Keep it in a safe place, as anyone who has access to the key will have access to the machine.

import boto3

class EC2InstanceManager:
    def __init__(self, image_id, instance_type, key_name, security_group_ids, subnet_id):
        # Create an EC2 client using the default Cloud9 session
        self.ec2_client = boto3.client('ec2')

        # Define parameters for the new instance
        self.instance_params = {
            'ImageId': image_id,  # Replace with the desired AMI image ID
            'InstanceType': instance_type,  # Replace with the desired instance type
            'MinCount': 1,
            'MaxCount': 1,
            'KeyName': key_name,  # Replace with the existing key pair name in your AWS
            'SecurityGroupIds': security_group_ids,  # Replace with the desired security group ID
            'SubnetId': subnet_id,  # Replace with the desired subnet ID
        }

    def create_instance(self):
        # Create the instance
        response = self.ec2_client.run_instances(**self.instance_params)

        # Get the ID of the created instance
        instance_id = response['Instances'][0]['InstanceId']

        print(f'Successfully created instance. ID: {instance_id}')

# Example of how to use the class
if __name__ == "__main__":
    # Replace the placeholder values with your specific configuration
    manager = EC2InstanceManager(
        image_id='ami-XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX',
        instance_type='t2.micro',
        key_name='EXISTING_KEY_NAME',
        security_group_ids=['sg-XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX'],
        subnet_id='subnet-XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX'
    )

    # Create the instance using the defined parameters
    manager.create_instance()

Don’t forget to install the boto3 library. In the terminal type:

pip install boto3

Wait a few seconds and go to the EC2 panel. You will see a new instance created. By running our code you can check the id of the instance you have created. If you have several instances made, look for this identifier.

To avoid unnecessary costs when you finish the process and if you don’t need the instance, don’t forget to finalize the machines created.

import boto3

class EC2InstanceCreator:
    def __init__(self, aws_access_key, aws_secret_key, region_name):
        # Create a Boto3 session with provided credentials and region
        self.session = boto3.Session(
            aws_access_key_id=aws_access_key,
            aws_secret_access_key=aws_secret_key,
            region_name=region_name
        )

        # Create an EC2 client using the session
        self.ec2_client = self.session.client('ec2')

    def create_instance(self, image_id, instance_type, key_name, security_group_ids, subnet_id):
        # Define parameters for the new instance
        instance_params = {
            'ImageId': image_id,
            'InstanceType': instance_type,
            'MinCount': 1,
            'MaxCount': 1,
            'KeyName': key_name,
            'SecurityGroupIds': security_group_ids,
            'SubnetId': subnet_id,
        }

        # Create the instance
        response = self.ec2_client.run_instances(**instance_params)

        # Get the ID of the created instance
        instance_id = response['Instances'][0]['InstanceId']

        print(f'Successfully created instance. ID: {instance_id}')

# Example of how to use the class
if __name__ == "__main__":
    # Replace the placeholder values with your specific configuration
    creator = EC2InstanceCreator(
        aws_access_key='YOUR_ACCESS_KEY',
        aws_secret_key='YOUR_SECRET_KEY',
        region_name='us-east-1'
    )

    # Replace the placeholder values with your specific configuration
    creator.create_instance(
        image_id='ami-XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX',
        instance_type='t2.micro',
        key_name='EXISTING_KEY_NAME',
        security_group_ids=['sg-XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX'],
        subnet_id='subnet-XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX'
    )