Deploying a Next.js application to AWS EC2 can seem challenging at
first, but with the right guidance, it becomes a straightforward
process. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step, from
setting up your EC2 instance to running your production-ready Next.js
app live on the web. Whether you are a beginner or a professional
developer, this tutorial will help you master AWS EC2 deployment for
your Next.js project.

What Is AWS EC2?

Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) is a cloud-based service that
provides resizable computing capacity. It allows developers to deploy
web applications on virtual servers without worrying about physical
hardware. You can choose the operating system, network configuration,
and even security settings according to your project needs.

For Next.js developers, EC2 is an ideal choice due to its
scalability, performance, and control over the environment.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have the following:

• A working Next.js project
• An AWS account
• Basic knowledge of terminal commands
• Git installed on your local machine
• An SSH key for secure server access

If you don't have an AWS account yet, visit
AWS and create one. You'll also need to
configure your billing method.

Step 1: Create and Configure an EC2 Instance

1. Login to AWS Management Console
   Go to your AWS Management Console
   and search for EC2 under the "Services" section.

2. Launch a New Instance

   • Click Launch Instance
   • Choose Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS (Free Tier Eligible)
   • Select an instance type, such as t2.micro for free-tier
     usage
   • Configure instance details (default settings are fine for now)
   • Add storage (default 8 GB is sufficient for small apps)
   • Configure security group (allow ports 22, 80, and
     443)
   • Review and launch the instance
   • Download your .pem key file --- this is required for SSH
     access

3. Connect to Your Instance
   Use the command below to connect to your instance (replace
   placeholders accordingly):

   ssh -i "your-key.pem" ubuntu@your-ec2-public-ip
   

   Once connected, you'll have access to your remote Ubuntu server.

Step 2: Install Node.js and NPM on EC2

Next.js requires Node.js and NPM to run.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nodejs npm -y

Check versions to confirm installation:

node -v
npm -v

If you need a specific Node version, use nvm (Node Version Manager):

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.1/install.sh | bash
source ~/.bashrc
nvm install 18

This ensures compatibility with your Next.js version.

Step 3: Clone Your Next.js Project

If your project is hosted on GitHub or GitLab, clone it using:

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/your-nextjs-project.git
cd your-nextjs-project

Alternatively, you can upload your files manually using an SFTP tool
like FileZilla.

Step 4: Install Dependencies

Inside your project folder, run:

npm install

This will install all required dependencies defined in package.json.

Step 5: Build the Next.js App

Before deployment, build your application for production:

npm run build

This command optimizes your Next.js app for the best performance.

Step 6: Run the App Locally

You can test your build locally before making it live:

npm start

Now visit your server's IP address on port 3000:
http://your-ec2-public-ip:3000

If you see your app running, you're good to proceed.

Step 7: Set Up a Process Manager (PM2)

You don't want your app to stop running if you close the terminal. Use
PM2, a production process manager:

sudo npm install -g pm2
pm2 start npm --name "nextjs-app" -- start
pm2 startup
pm2 save

Now your app will automatically restart if the server reboots.

Step 8: Configure Reverse Proxy with Nginx

Nginx is used to serve your app over HTTP/HTTPS.

1. Install Nginx

   sudo apt install nginx -y
   

2. Edit Nginx Configuration

   sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/default
   

   Replace the file content with:

   server {
       listen 80;
       server_name your-domain.com www.your-domain.com;
   
       location / {
           proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;
           proxy_http_version 1.1;
           proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
           proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
           proxy_set_header Host $host;
           proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
       }
   }
   

3. Restart Nginx

   sudo systemctl restart nginx
   

Now your app will be accessible through your domain.

Step 9: Set Up a Domain and SSL (Optional but Recommended)

To make your website secure, you can set up SSL using Certbot:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y
sudo certbot --nginx -d your-domain.com -d www.your-domain.com

Follow the prompts to automatically install and configure SSL
certificates.

Step 10: Automate Deployment (Optional)

For continuous deployment, you can integrate GitHub Actions or AWS
CodeDeploy. This allows automatic updates every time you push to your
main branch.

Example GitHub Actions workflow:

name: Deploy Next.js to EC2

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main

jobs:
  deploy:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
        uses: actions/checkout@v2

      - name: SSH to EC2 and Deploy
        uses: appleboy/ssh-action@v0.1.6
        with:
          host: ${{ secrets.EC2_HOST }}
          username: ubuntu
          key: ${{ secrets.EC2_SSH_KEY }}
          script: |
            cd /home/ubuntu/your-nextjs-project
            git pull origin main
            npm install
            npm run build
            pm2 restart all

Step 11: Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Port already in use: Kill the existing process using
  sudo lsof -i :3000 and kill -9 PID.
• Permission denied: Ensure your .pem key file permissions are
  set with chmod 400 your-key.pem.
• App not loading on domain: Check Nginx logs with
  sudo tail -f /var/log/nginx/error.log.

Why Choose AWS EC2 for Next.js Deployment?

• Scalability: Easily upgrade instance types as traffic grows.\
• Performance: Low latency and high availability with AWS
  infrastructure.\
• Flexibility: Full control over your environment.\
• Security: Strong firewall and access control features.

Conclusion

Deploying your Next.js app on AWS EC2 is a powerful way to achieve
performance, scalability, and full control over your application
environment. Following the steps above ensures a smooth and efficient
setup process, from server configuration to live deployment.

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