What Is Amazon AWS Management Console: Beginners Guide

In the dynamic world of cloud computing, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has emerged as a titan, offering a vast array of services and resources that empower businesses to innovate, scale, and thrive. 

At the heart of this powerful cloud ecosystem lies the Amazon Web Services Management Console, a gateway to AWS services and a command centre for cloud administrators. In this beginner’s guide, we will unravel the Amazon AWS Management Console, exploring its significance, features, and how it serves as a pivotal tool for managing your AWS resources. 

Definition of AWS Management Console

Before diving into the nitty-gritty of the AWS management console, let’s discuss what AWS is. AWS, or Amazon Web Services, is a subsidiary of Amazon Inc., offering organisations several APIs and cloud computing platforms on a pay-as-you-go basis. 

A network of AWS server farms located all over the world provides services to AWS clients. The clients make the payments based on their usage pattern, services they opted for, and software, hardware and operating systems used.

Amazon Web Services management console is a web application that manages various aspects of the AWS. It helps the users manage, monitor, and configure multiple services and resources on AWS.

List of services offered by AWS

Amazon Web Services offers multiple services for its users. Here is a brief overview of a few services.

• Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud or EC2 Management Console

It lets the clients use virtual machines to run applications in the AWS through renting EC2 instances. Storage, Memory and CPU are examples of the same.

• Amazon Relational Database or RDS

It helps the developers manage and scale the database. There are six database engines that you can opt for. These are – 

1. Amazon Aurora
2. MySQL
3. Oracle Database
4. MariaDB
5. SQL Server
6. PostgreSQL 

• Amazon Simple Storage or Amazon S3

It works as a backup and an archive for storing data and applications. It is used on various websites, mobile applications, etc.

• Amazon Identity and Access or IAM Management Console

It works mainly as a directory service. It can track users, set various permissions, and restrict access to certain AWS services.

• Amazon OpsWork

It works as a management tool. It oversees how the cloud administrators use the infrastructure and provides automation platforms to automate configuration.

How Do You Sign In to an AWS Amazon Console?

You need to create an AWS account before you can carry out console AWS log-in. Let’s first discuss how to create an account.

Account Creation

A newly created AWS account has Amazon Free Tier Access for twelve months. Here is a brief overview of creating an account.

1. First, access the account creation page. Fill in the details, and press the “Continue” button.
2. Next, register your Credit/ Debit card with the account. The system may deduct a small refundable fee. You will receive the refund within 48 to 72 hours.
3. Now, verify your identity through an SMS or a call from Amazon.
4. After that, you need to choose from multiple plans available, which include –

• Basic Plan
• Developer Plan
• Business Plan

Among these plans, the Basic Plan is free. Others may charge you accordingly.

After completing all these steps, you can sign in to your AWS account.

Signing In

For the AWS console login, you need to follow the steps below.

• First, access the login page of the AWS. You will see two options.

1. If you are a Root user who requires unrestricted access.
2. If you are an IAM user who performs daily tasks.

• Choose the type of user you are. Put your email ID in the box given on the page and click continue.
• Now, you have successfully signed in to your console AWS.

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How Do You Open a Console to Access a Service?

We already know about the multiple services the AWS Amazon admin console offers. Next, we need to learn to access these services. Here is a brief overview of the steps to access a service in the AWS console.

1. You must first sign in to the AWS console.
2. Now, there are multiple ways to access a service. Find the option named “Services” in the navigation bar.

• Locate the search button next to the “Services” option. Type the name of the service you want to access, and you will see a list containing the services. Select the one you need.
• There is an option named “Recently visited” within “Services”. Here, you will find the services you visited by clicking on it.
• Alternatively, you can click on the “All services” menu inside “Services”. It will open a list of services. Choose the service you want from the list.

How Do You Add and Remove Shortcuts?

You can create and remove shortcuts of AWS services through several steps. Let’s discuss them.

Creating a Shortcut

Here are the steps to create a shortcut in the Amazon AWS management console.

• First, open the console and click on the “Pin” icon. A list of services will open.
• Click and hold the service you want to pin.
• Now, drag it into the main menu bar. You have completed adding a shortcut.
• You can add as many services as you want to the main menu bar.

Removing a Shortcut

Use the following steps to remove a shortcut from the main menu bar.

• First, open the console and click on the “Pin” icon. The list of services will open.
• Drag the service you want to remove from the menu ban onto the list and drop it anywhere.
• You have successfully removed the shortcut now.

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How Do You Select AWS Regions?

Selecting various regions in AWS gives you access to region-specific services. You can select regions with the help of the AWS Amazon console and even set it as your default region. Here are the procedures to select the region and make it default in AWS.

Select a Region

Here is the procedure to select a region.

1. First, sign in to the AWS console.
2. Next, choose a service that you want to select a region for.
3. You will see the currently selected region on the navigation bar. Click on that to access other regions.
4. You will see a drop-down menu where you can choose the region of your choice.

Set a Default Region

To set a region as default, follow the procedure below.

1. After signing in, go to the navigation bar. 
2. Now, choose your account name.
3. Click on “Settings”.
4. You will find an option called “Localisation and default region”. Click on the “Edit” option next to it.
5. Select your default region.
6. Now click on the “Save Changes” option, and you are ready with your default region.

How Do You Acquire Billing Information on an AWS Management Console?

The AWS console gives you the provision to access the billing information. It will provide you with a breakdown of all your monthly spending. Here is the procedure to acquire billing information.

1. Sign in to the Amazon management console.
2. Choose your account name from the navigation bar.
3. Now, choose “Billing Dashboard” from the drop-down menu.
4. You will find “AWS Summary” and a breakdown of your spending here.

The AWS billing management console also lets you access other features like:

• Downloading a PDF of your invoice
• Print or download your bill
• Downloading a monthly report

Step-by-Step Guide to Change the Password of the AWS Account on an Amazon Web Services Management Console

To secure your AWS account, you must change your password regularly. The AWS console lets you change your account password with ease. Here is the procedure for changing your password in AWS. 

1. Sign in to the AWS management console.
2. Find your account name in the navigation bar. Click on that.
3. You will see a list or a drop-down menu with multiple options. Choose the “Security Credentials” option from here.
4. Now, you will see several options depending on your account type. Follow the instructions thoroughly.
5. You will see a new page directing you to enter the current password once and the new password twice.
6. Select the “Save Changes” option and save your new password.

Note – A strong password should contain the following

• Alphabets in both uppercase and lowercase
• At least one number 
• At least one symbol

Benefits of AWS Management Console

AWS console provides multiple benefits to its users. Here are a few of them.

• The interface is an easy-to-use one and provides users with ease of access. 
• With the help of the AWS web console, users can monitor applications. It also enables them to launch new applications.
• Users can build new applications with the help of the AWS console.
• It enables users to manage their accounts. Managing accounts includes monitoring of the services as well as the monthly expenditure.
• The AWS console is highly secure. It is based on an end-to-end approach to provide the highest level of security. 
• To deal with adaptability, it provides educational resources to let the users learn all about using the services provided.
• The Amazon AWS management console offers its users remote access through its servers. It means you can access your services through your smartphone.
• It offers flexibility in choosing the services you require. You can choose operating systems, databases, programming languages, application platforms and the services of your choice.
• It enables you to create shortcuts for the service links you use the most. For this, you can use the pin icon in the AWS console.
• The AWS Amazon console is compatible with all the most-used web browsers, such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.
• The console provides an option to select regions and zones of availability. It helps you access region-specific services.

Limitations of the Amazon AWS Management Console

Although there are multiple benefits of the AWS management console, there are some limitations that hinder its potential. Here are a few of them.

• New users may find it complicated to navigate through the complex menu system of the AWS web console. 
• You can not update a certificate through the console in AWS. It can only be done through Identity and Access Management in CLI.
• It can become difficult to integrate other tools and services with the console.
• The billing system in the AWS console dashboard would not provide information on the amount of traffic sent out. 
• Although the console is free to access, some of the services are provided on a pay-as-you-go basis. The only way to avoid this is if you are an AWS free-tier user.
• There is a lack of trained individuals in the field of AWS. It may be a hindrance to implementing AWS in an organisation.
• General issues like downtime in the Amazon servers also threaten the implementation of the Amazon management console in an organisation.

Conclusion

The AWS admin console is your gateway to the limitless possibilities of cloud computing. It is a significant tool for managing all the AWS services. Remember that the console is just one facet of AWS management. A vast world of AWS services and resources awaits you to explore, innovate, and leverage to fuel your organisation’s growth and success. 

Whether you’re a seasoned IT professional or a newcomer to cloud technology, the Management Console is your ally in harnessing the power of AWS. It is also available as an application for mobile devices.