Home How To How to Open SSH, HTTP, and HTTPS Firewall Ports on AWS Lightsail

How to Open SSH, HTTP, and HTTPS Firewall Ports on AWS Lightsail

Last updated on Dec 08, 2024

Below is a detailed, easy-to-understand user guide on how to open the firewall ports for SSH, HTTP, and HTTPS on an AWS Lightsail instance.

Purpose:

• Open the SSH port (22) to securely connect to the server remotely.

• Open the HTTP port (80) to allow access to your website using the standard HTTP protocol.

• Open the HTTPS port (443) to allow secure, encrypted access to your website.

Requirements:

• You have an AWS account and have already created a Lightsail instance.

• You are logged into your AWS account.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1: Log in to AWS Lightsail

  1. Open your web browser and go to the Lightsail console: https://lightsail.aws.amazon.com/

  2. Log in with your AWS credentials.

Step 2: Select Your Instance

  1. Once logged in, you will see a list of your Lightsail instances.

  2. Click on the name or icon of the instance where you want to open the ports.

Step 3: Go to the Networking Section

  1. On the instance detail page, look for the top navigation tabs.

  2. Click on the “Networking” tab to access the networking and firewall settings.

Step 4: Add Firewall Rules

  1. Scroll down to find the “Firewall” section.

  2. You will see an area where you can add new rules by clicking “Add another” or a similar button.

Step 5: Add the SSH Port (22)

  1. Click “Add another”.

  2. From the dropdown list, if available, select “SSH.” Otherwise, select “Custom” and manually enter the port number 22.

  3. Click “Save” or the corresponding button to save the rule.

Step 6: Add the HTTP Port (80)

  1. Click “Add another” again.

  2. From the dropdown list, choose “HTTP” if it’s available. If not, select “Custom” and enter 80 in the port range.

  3. Click “Save” to save the rule.

Step 7: Add the HTTPS Port (443)

  1. Click “Add another” once more.

  2. Select “HTTPS” from the list. If not listed, choose “Custom” and enter 443.

  3. Click “Save” to finalize the rule.

Step 8: Verify and Complete

  1. After adding the three ports—22, 80, and 443—double-check that all rules appear correctly.

  2. Lightsail will automatically apply the changes; no further configuration is needed.

Result:

You have successfully opened the SSH (22), HTTP (80), and HTTPS (443) ports on your AWS Lightsail instance. You can now:

• Connect to the server via SSH on port 22.

• Access your website at http://your-server-ip via port 80.

• Access your website securely at https://your-server-ip via port 443.

That’s it! With just a few steps, you’ve configured the firewall to allow the necessary ports for SSH, HTTP, and HTTPS on AWS Lightsail.