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Redhat 8 installation on aws

Published: December 1, 2025 (Updated: Dec 1, 2025)

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Get Started with Red Hat 8 on AWS EC2: The Ultimate Free Tier Setup Guide

Hi there! Darren O’Neill from Darren’s Tech Tutorials here.

If you’re looking to get your hands on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (RHEL 8) but want to avoid the headache of managing local hardware, AWS is the perfect solution. Even better, we can set it up on the AWS Free Tier, meaning you can learn and experiment without paying a penny.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the exact steps needed to launch a RHEL 8 EC2 instance and secure access it via SSH using PuTTY.

Let’s get that Red Hat server running!

Step 1: Launching Your RHEL 8 EC2 Instance

The first step is locating and launching the appropriate Amazon Machine Image (AMI) from your AWS console.

  1. Log In and Navigate: Log into your AWS console. Click on Services and select EC2 under the Compute section.
  2. Initiate Launch: Click the Launch Instance button.
  3. Select the AMI: In the list of available AMIs, search for and select Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.
  4. Choose Instance Type: Select the t2.micro instance type. This is crucial as it qualifies under the AWS Free Tier, allowing you to use it at no cost (up to the free usage limits). Click Next: Configure Instance Details.

Step 2: Configuring Instance Details and Storage

We will stick mostly to the defaults here, but it’s important to confirm the networking settings.

  1. Configure Network: Leave the settings in the default VPC and default subnet. Crucially, ensure Auto-assign Public IP is set to “Enable” (the default), as this is how you will access the server over the internet.
  2. Add Storage: Click Next: Add Storage. The default of 10 GB is sufficient for RHEL 8 testing, but you can increase this if necessary. Click Next: Add Tags.
  3. Tag Your Instance: Adding a tag helps identify the server later. Click Add Tag and use Key: Name and Value: Darren's Red Hat Server (or a name of your choice).

Step 3: Security Group and Key Pair Creation

Security is paramount. We must open the SSH port (Port 22) and create a key pair to log in securely.

Setting Up the Security Group

  1. Click Next: Configure Security Group.
  2. You need to ensure that the rule allows traffic on Port 22 (SSH).
  3. Specify Source IP: For enhanced security, change the Source dropdown from “Anywhere” to “My IP”. This ensures only your current machine can initiate the SSH connection.
  4. Click Review and Launch.

Creating and Downloading the Key Pair

This step is vital for the initial secure login.

  1. On the review screen, click Launch.
  2. A pop-up window will ask you to select or create a key pair. Choose Create a new key pair.
  3. Name the key pair (e.g., Darren's Red Hat Key).
  4. Click Download Key Pair. Save the .pem file immediately! This key is required for SSH access and cannot be downloaded again.
  5. Click Launch Instance.

Your instance will begin initializing. While it warms up, we need to prepare the key for use with PuTTY.

Step 4: Converting Your Key Pair (.PEM to .PPK)

AWS provides the key in a .pem format, which standard SSH clients use. However, if you are using PuTTY on Windows, you must convert it to a PuTTY Private Key (.ppk) format using a tool called PuTTYgen.

  1. Open PuTTYgen: Launch the PuTTYgen tool.
  2. Load the Private Key: Click Load. You may need to change the file type dropdown from “PuTTY Private Key Files (.ppk)” to **“All Files (.*)”** to see your downloaded .pem file.
  3. Select your Darren's Red Hat Key.pem file and click Open.
  4. Save the PPK: Once loaded, click Save private key.
  5. Optional: You will be asked if you want to save the key without a passphrase. While adding a passphrase offers extra security, for this tutorial, we will click “Yes” to proceed without one.
  6. Save the new key file (e.g., Darren-key.ppk) to a secure location.

Step 5: Connecting to RHEL 8 via SSH (PuTTY)

Now that your instance is running and your key is converted, it’s time to connect!

  1. Get the Public IP: Go back to the AWS EC2 console, select your running instance, and copy its Public IPv4 Address.

  2. Open PuTTY: Launch PuTTY.

  3. Enter the IP: Paste the Public IPv4 Address into the Host Name (or IP address) field.

  4. Load the Key:

    • In the PuTTY navigation menu, expand SSH.
    • Click on Auth.
    • Click Browse and locate your saved .ppk file (e.g., Darren-key.ppk).

  5. Connect: Click Open. You may receive a security alert—click “Accept.”

  6. Log In: When prompted for the username, type in the default RHEL EC2 user:

    ec2-user

And there you have it! You should now be logged into your very own Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 server, running securely on AWS.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You successfully deployed RHEL 8 on the AWS Free Tier, configured its security, and logged in using a custom key pair. This is a crucial first step in mastering cloud infrastructure and enterprise Linux environments.

Now that you have access, feel free to start experimenting with commands, installing packages, and exploring the power of Red Hat in the cloud.

If you found this tutorial helpful, please be sure to like and comment below. Don’t forget to subscribe to Darren’s Tech Tutorials for more accessible and clear technology guides! Thanks for watching!