Launch EC2 Instances Declaratively
Provision compute with amazon.aws.
Launch EC2 Instances Declaratively is a free DevOps Bootcamp lesson on CoddyKit. This is lesson 2 of 4. Any 3 lessons of this learning path are free to read in full — after that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus hands-on practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the DevOps Bootcamp learning path, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app. The DevOps Bootcamp course includes 4 lessons in total.
From Clicking to Declaring
Instead of clicking through the AWS console, you describe the instance you want and let Ansible make reality match it.
The ec2_instance Module
The amazon.aws.ec2_instance module creates and manages EC2 virtual machines straight from a playbook task.
- name: Launch a server
amazon.aws.ec2_instance:
name: web-01
state: presentChoose an AMI
An image_id tells AWS which base image to boot, like a specific Ubuntu or Amazon Linux AMI in your region.
amazon.aws.ec2_instance:
name: web-01
image_id: ami-0abcdef1234567890Pick an Instance Type
The instance_type sets the size and cost, such as t3.micro for small workloads or m5.large for heavier ones.
amazon.aws.ec2_instance:
name: web-01
instance_type: t3.microAttach an SSH Key
Set key_name to an existing EC2 key pair so you can SSH into the new box once it boots.
amazon.aws.ec2_instance:
name: web-01
key_name: my-keypairTag Everything
Add tags to label instances by role or environment. Tags power billing, search, and dynamic inventory grouping later.
amazon.aws.ec2_instance:
name: web-01
tags:
role: web
env: prodState Drives Behavior
The state key controls the lifecycle: present to ensure it exists, running to start it, or absent to terminate it.
amazon.aws.ec2_instance:
name: web-01
state: runningIt Is Idempotent
Run the task twice and Ansible matches on the instance name or tags. The second run reports ok and creates nothing new.
Launch Several at Once
The count parameter spins up multiple identical instances in one task, perfect for a small fleet of web nodes.
amazon.aws.ec2_instance:
name: web
count: 3
instance_type: t3.microCapture the Result
register saves the module output so you can read back the new public IPs and instance IDs in later tasks.
- amazon.aws.ec2_instance:
name: web-01
register: ec2Terminate When Done
Cleanup is just another declared state. Set state: absent and Ansible terminates the matching instance for you.
amazon.aws.ec2_instance:
name: web-01
state: absentQuick Check
You want exactly one EC2 instance to exist, no matter how often you run the play. Which key ensures that?
Recap
You launched EC2 declaratively with amazon.aws.ec2_instance: pick an AMI, type and key, tag it, set state, and register the result. ✨
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the “Launch EC2 Instances Declaratively” lesson free?
Yes — any 3 lessons of the DevOps Bootcamp learning path, including “Launch EC2 Instances Declaratively”, are free to read in full here on the web. After that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus interactive practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. The DevOps Bootcamp course includes 4 lessons in total.
What will I learn in “Launch EC2 Instances Declaratively”?
Provision compute with amazon.aws. You practise DevOps Bootcamp with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start DevOps Bootcamp?
No prior experience is required. DevOps Bootcamp on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace. This is lesson 2 of 4.
How long does the “Launch EC2 Instances Declaratively” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this DevOps Bootcamp lesson?
Yes. Every DevOps Bootcamp lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Cloud Collections & Authentication
- Launch EC2 Instances Declaratively
- Networking: VPCs, Subnets & Security Groups
- Provision Then Configure in One Flow