Table of contents
1.
Introduction 
2.
Features of Amazon Lightsail 
2.1.
Instances 
2.2.
Containers 
2.3.
Simplified Load Balancers 
2.4.
Managed Databases 
2.5.
Block and Object Storage
2.6.
CDN Distributions 
2.7.
Amazon Lightsail virtual servers 
2.8.
Upgrade to EC2
2.9.
Access to AWS services 
3.
Pricing of Amazon Lightsail 
3.1.
No-nonsense monthly pricing 
3.2.
AWS Free Tier 
3.3.
Virtual Servers 
3.3.1.
Linux/Unix
3.3.2.
  
3.3.3.
Windows 
3.4.
Containers 
3.5.
Object storage
3.5.1.
Bundles 
3.5.2.
Overage-Unique to each region 
3.6.
Managed Databases 
3.7.
Load Balancers 
3.8.
Block Storage
3.9.
Instances and Disk Snapshots 
3.10.
Pricing Example 
4.
Frequently Asked Questions
4.1.
Is there a Lightsail API?
4.2.
What are Availability Zones?
4.3.
What is a Lightsail instance? 
4.4.
What kind of applications can I run on my virtual machines?
4.5.
What is the process for setting up a Lightsail instance?
5.
Conclusion 
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024
Easy

Amazon Lightsail

Career growth poll
Do you think IIT Guwahati certified course can help you in your career?

Introduction 

Amazon Lightsail is an Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud solution that combines computational power and memory for beginning or inexperienced cloud customers.

AWS sells virtual machines (VMs) that include memory, processing, storage, and transfer and then releases that computational power as an Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) instance. An EC2 model provides computational power to Amazon Lightsail. Amazon EC2 is a cloud computing service that provides secure, programmable computational power.

AWS created the Lightsail service to be simple to comprehend and acquire. The vendor manages the infrastructure, and it has the same uptime, global regions, and availability zones as EC2.

Virtual private servers (VPS) are virtual machines with their own operating systems that have limited access to existing server resources, according to Amazon Lightsail. Customers can pick from a variety of Lightsail plans that include the following features:

  • Memory capacities range from 512 MB to 32 GB;
  • cores running from one to eight;
  • a solid-state disk having a storage capacity of 20 GB to 640 GB;
  • 1 TB to 7 TB data transfer allowances; and
  • Monthly fees range from $3.50 to $240.

 

A static IP address, easy administration panel, secure shell terminal access, remote desktop access, domain name server control, and server monitoring are all included in all subscriptions. Customers have access to AWS tools as well.

Must read, Amazon Hirepro

Features of Amazon Lightsail 

Amazon Lightsail provides basic cloud resources to help you get your web app or website up and operating in a matter of minutes. Lightsail makes it easy to manage instances, containers, databases, storage, and other services. You may quickly create websites or apps with Lightsail by utilizing pre-configured blueprints such as WordPress, Prestashop, or LAMP. Lightsail features may be used to host static material, link your content to a global audience, or set up your Windows Business server. The Lightsail console walks you through the configuration process and, in many cases, comes pre-configured with components.

Instances 

Lightsail provides easy-to-use virtual servers (instances) supported by AWS's power and stability. In minutes, you can start your website, web application, or project and maintain it using the Lightsail interface or API.

Lightsail allows you to click-to-launch a basic operating system (OS), a pre-configured application, or a development stack—such as WordPress, Windows, Plesk, LAMP, Nginx, and more—while building your instance. Every Lightsail includes a built-in firewall that lets you control traffic to your instances depending on the originating IP, port, and protocol.

Containers 

Lightsail makes running containers in the cloud simple. Customers may now operate and securely access containerized apps via the internet with Lightsail Container Service in just a few clicks.

Customers may use Lightsail Containers to run Docker containers in the cloud directly from their developer processes. Lightsail builds containers from Docker images provided by developers while we handle the infrastructure management issues.

Simplified Load Balancers 

Lightsail's faster load balancing distributes web traffic among your instances, allowing your websites and apps to handle traffic fluctuations, avoid outages, and provide a consistent visitor experience.

Lightsail load balancers also have integrated certificate management, which allows you to provide and add free SSL/TLS certificates to a load balancer in just a few clicks. You can order and maintain credentials right from the Lightsail dashboard, and we'll take care of renewals for you.

Managed Databases 

Lightsail provides a fully configured MySQL or PostgreSQL database plan with memory, processing, storage, and transfer allowances. You can grow your databases independently of your virtual servers, increase application availability, or host standalone databases with Lightsail managed databases in the cloud. You can also use Lightsail to create multi-tiered applications by connecting several instances to a centrally managed database and using a load balancer to send traffic to the cases.

Block and Object Storage

Both block and object storage are available on Amazon Lightsail. With highly accessible SSD-backed storage for your Linux or Windows virtual server, you can quickly increase your storage. You can host static material on the cloud with Lightsail Object Storage.

CDN Distributions 

Content delivery network (CDN) distributions are possible using Lightsail, built on the same architecture as Amazon CloudFront. This enables you to effortlessly spread your content to a worldwide audience by putting up proxy servers throughout the world, allowing your visitors to view your website from a location closer to them, minimizing latency.

Amazon Lightsail virtual servers 

Lightsail provides easy-to-use virtual servers (instances) supported by AWS's power and stability. In minutes, you can start your website, web application, or project and maintain it using the Lightsail interface or API.

Lightsail allows you to click-to-launch a basic operating system (OS), a pre-configured application, or a development stack - such as WordPress, Windows, Plesk, LAMP, Nginx, and more - when building your instance. Every Lightsail includes a built-in firewall that lets you control traffic to your instances depending on the originating IP, port, and protocol.

One instance is up and running, you may set custom alarms and receive notifications by email or text message when something goes wrong.

Upgrade to EC2

You may rapidly migrate to EC2 as your cloud ideas evolve with a simple, guided experience. With this functionality, you can be certain that when your website or application expands, Lightsail will be there to assist you in scaling in a way that works for you.

Upgrading is simple: take a snapshot of your instance and follow the Lightsail console's step-by-step instructions to export your snapshot to EC2. The Upgrade to EC2 wizard may then be used to get your new EC2 instance up and running.

Access to AWS services 

Amazon Lightsail employs a concentrated set of capabilities such as instances, managed databases, and load balancers to make it easier to get started. But that doesn't mean you have to stick to those alternatives; you may use Amazon VPC peering to connect your Lightsail project to AWS's 90+ other services.

You may administer the services on AWS using the AWS management console while maintaining the Lightsail console for day-to-day management. It's a win-win situation! 

Pricing of Amazon Lightsail 

You pay a low, predictable price with Amazon Lightsail. Lightsail simplifies budgeting by combining resources such as RAM, vCPU, and solid-state drive (SSD) storage into a single plan. Static IP addresses, DNS administration, one-click secure shell protocol (SSH), terminal access (Linux/Unix), one-click RDP access (Windows), highly accessible SSD storage, and server monitoring are included in all Lightsail plans. Lightsail offers packaged programs that include all of its services, from the lowest tier to those with more computing.

No-nonsense monthly pricing 

Concentrate on your code rather than your bill. Lightsail combines all of your resources into single, easy-to-understand pricing.

Included in all static plans 

  • Static IP address
  • Intuitive management console
  • DNS management
  • one-click SSH terminal access (Linux/Unix)
  • one-click RDP access (Windows)
  • Powerful API
  • Highly available SSD storage
  • Server monitoring

AWS Free Tier 

You can start using Amazon Lightsail for free as part of the AWS Free Tier. Sign up for a free year of 50 GB content delivery network (CDN) distributions, a free year of 5 GB object storage, and three months of the free container, instance, and database bundles when you sign up. If you're tied to an organization (under AWS Organizations), the Free Tier offerings are limited to one account per organization.

Lightsail is extending its free tier to include three months free on some bundles for a limited period. The promotion is valid for new or existing AWS customers that began using Lightsail on or after July 8, 2021. Only one bundle per account is eligible for this offer. Standard rates apply after the first 750 hours of usage of the specified package per month. Check out the suggestions below to save money on Amazon Lightsail right now.

  • On Linux/Unix packages, three months are free: $3.50 USD/month, $5 USD/month, and $10 USD/month
  • Three months free on Windows bundles: $8, $12, and $20 per month.
  • You get three months free on the $15 USD/month Database package.
  • On the $10 USD/month Container service, you get three months free (Micro -1 node)
  • CDN for a year

Virtual Servers 

Linux/Unix

  

Source 

Windows 

Source 

Containers 

In only a few clicks, you can run your containerized programs. The charges for each node of your container service are listed below. With one $10 USD/mo node, you receive three months free on the Microservice.

Source 

*Each container service comes with a monthly data transfer quota of 500 GB. An overage charge varies per AWS Region and starts at $0.09 per GB for data transmission over the limit.

Object storage

Bundles 

Overage-Unique to each region 

Source 

Managed Databases 

Please select from our normal or high availability plan, which includes additional instances for redundancy and failovers.

Source 

Load Balancers 

There's no need to keep track of bandwidth or connections. Lightsail load balancers have a single monthly fee of 18$ per month. 

Block Storage

Scale your Linux or Windows virtual server storage fast and simply using SSD-backed storage. Block storage begins at 8 GB and costs $0.10 USD per month for each allotted GB.

Source 

Instances and Disk Snapshots 

Data on your Amazon Lightsail instances managed databases and block storage may be backed up using point-in-time snapshots. The price is 0.05$/gb 

Pricing Example 

Example:

You have a WordPress website hosted on Amazon Lightsail that is accessible from anywhere. This website is hosted on a Linux instance package with 1 GB of memory, one core CPU, 40 GB SSD storage, and 2 TB of transfer for $5 per month. The website maintains its inert material in a Lightsail object storage bucket with 5 GB storage and 25 GB transfer and employs a CDN distribution to serve content worldwide for a year free up to 50 GB.

LightSail Charges 

WordPress instance = $5 USD / month

CDN distribution = Free first year

Object Storage bucket = $1 USD / month

Total charges: $6 to get your WordPress site delivered around the world

Read about Batch Operating System here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Lightsail API?

Yes. Everything you do in the Lightsail console is supported by an API open to the public. 

What are Availability Zones?

Availability Zones are clusters of data centers built to be highly dependable and run on physically separate, independent infrastructure. Generators and cooling equipment, which are common failure sites, are not shared throughout Availability Zones. Furthermore, because Availability Zones are geographically isolated, even highly rare events like fires, storms, and flooding may only affect a single Availability Zone.

What is a Lightsail instance? 

A Lightsail instance is an AWS Cloud-based virtual private server (VPS). Lightsail instances may store data, run code, and create web-based applications or webpages. Public (internet) and private (VPC) networking can link your instances to one other and other AWS services. From the Lightsail console, you can create, manage, and connect to instances.

What kind of applications can I run on my virtual machines?

When you start a new Lightsail instance, various operating systems and application templates are installed automatically. WordPress, WordPress Multisite, cPanel & WHM, PrestaShop, Django, Drupal, Ghost, Joomla!, Magento, Redmine, LAMP, Nginx (LEMP), MEAN, and Node.js are among the application templates available.

You may install different applications on your instances using the in-browser SSH or your SSH client.

What is the process for setting up a Lightsail instance?

After login into Lightsail, you may build and manage instances using the Lightsail console, command-line interface (CLI), or API.

Choose Create Instance the first time you log in to the console. You may pick your instance's software, location, and name on the create instance page. Your new model will start up immediately minutes after you select Create.

Conclusion 

In this article, we briefly discussed the introduction of Amazon Lightsail, and what are the features offered by amazon lightsail, and finally, the pricing of amazon lightsail. 

Refer to our guided paths on Coding Ninjas Studio to learn more about DSA, Competitive Programming, JavaScript, System Design, etc. Enroll in our courses and refer to the mock test and problems available, interview puzzles, take a look at the interview experiences, and interview bundle for placement preparations.

We hope that this blog has helped you enhance your knowledge regarding amazon lightsail, and if you liked this blog, check other links. Do upvote our blog to help other ninjas grow. Happy Coding!"

Live masterclass