Get started with Windows Server-based instances in Amazon Lightsail - Amazon Lightsail

Get started with Windows Server-based instances in Amazon Lightsail

You can create Lightsail instances that run the Windows Server operating system (OS). We have three OS blueprints available: Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2016. In addition, we have blueprints that come preconfigured with SQL Server 2022, 2019, and 2016 Express.

This topic provides information about choosing your software, creating your Windows Server-based instance, and connecting to it.

Learn more about Windows Server on AWS

Choose a Windows Server-based instance

There are three options for creating a Windows Server-based instance in Lightsail.

Windows Server 2022

Lightsail running Windows Server is a fast and dependable environment for deploying applications using the Microsoft Web Platform. With Lightsail, you can run any compatible Windows-based solution on the high-performance, reliable, cost-effective AWS Cloud computing platform. Common Windows use cases include Enterprise Windows-based application hosting, website and web service hosting, data processing, distributed testing, ASP.NET application hosting, and any other application requiring Windows software.

Learn more about the Windows Server 2022 image

Windows Server 2019

Unless you need to run Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows Server 2016 for some reason, we recommend using the latest version of Windows Server 2019.

Lightsail running Windows Server is a fast and dependable environment for deploying applications using the Microsoft Web Platform. Lightsail enables you to run any compatible Windows-based solution on AWS' high-performance, reliable, cost-effective, cloud computing platform. Common Windows use cases include Enterprise Windows-based application hosting, website and web-service hosting, data processing, distributed testing, ASP.NET application hosting, and any other application requiring Windows software.

Learn more about the Windows Server 2019 image

Windows Server 2016

Lightsail running Windows Server is a fast and dependable environment for deploying applications using the Microsoft Web Platform. Lightsail enables you to run any compatible Windows-based solution on AWS' high-performance, reliable, cost-effective, cloud computing platform. Common Windows use cases include Enterprise Windows-based application hosting, website and web-service hosting, data processing, distributed testing, ASP.NET application hosting, and any other application requiring Windows software.

Learn more about the Windows Server 2016 image

SQL Server Express 2022

SQL Server Express is a relational database management system that is free to download, distribute, and use. It comprises a database specifically targeted for embedded and smaller-scale applications. This Lightsail image runs on a base OS of Windows Server 2022.

Learn more about the SQL Server Express 2022 image

SQL Server Express 2019

SQL Server Express is a relational database management system that is free to download, distribute, and use. It comprises a database specifically targeted for embedded and smaller-scale applications. This Lightsail image runs on a base OS of Windows Server 2022.

Learn more about the SQL Server Express 2019 image

SQL Server Express 2016

SQL Server Express is a relational database management system that is free to download, distribute, and use. It comprises a database specifically targeted for embedded and smaller-scale applications. This Lightsail image runs on a base OS of Windows Server 2016.

Learn more about the SQL Server Express image

Create a Windows Server-based instance

You can create a Windows Server-based instance using the Lightsail console or by using the AWS Command Line Interface (AWS CLI).

To create an instance using the console
  1. Sign in to Lightsail, and then go to the home page.

  2. Choose Create instance.

  3. Select an AWS Region where you want to create your Windows Server-based Lightsail instance.

    For example, Ohio (us-east-2).

  4. Select the Microsoft Windows platform.

  5. To choose the Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016 blueprint, choose OS Only.

    To choose the SQL Server Express blueprint, choose Apps + OS.

  6. Choose your instance plan.

    Choose whether your instance uses dual-stack (IPv4 and IPv6), or IPv6-only networking. Some Lightsail blueprints don't support IPv6-only networking at this time. To see which blueprints support IPv6-only networking see Choose an Amazon Lightsail instance image.

    A plan also includes a low, predictable cost and a machine configuration (RAM, SSD, vCPU), as well as data transfer.

    Note

    Some instance plans are not available for some blueprints. For example, you can't use the two smallest plans with the SQL Server Express blueprint. At a minimum, you must use the plan that has 2 GB RAM and 50 GB SSD, or choose one of the larger plans.

  7. Enter a name for your instance.

    Resource names:

    • Must be unique within each AWS Region in your Lightsail account.

    • Must contain 2 to 255 characters.

    • Must start and end with an alphanumeric character or number.

    • Can include alphanumeric characters, numbers, periods, dashes, and underscores.

  8. Choose one of the following options to add tags to your instance:

    • Add key-only tags or Edit key-only tags (if tags have already been added). Enter your new tag into the tag key text box, and press Enter. Choose Save when you’re done entering your tags to add them, or choose Cancel to not add them.

      
                The Key-only tags field on the Lightsail create instance workflow.
    • Create a key-value tag, then enter a key into the Key text box, and a value into the Value text box. Choose Save when you’re done entering your tags, or choose Cancel to not add them.

      Key-value tags can only be added one at a time before saving. To add more than one key-value tag, repeat the previous steps.

      
                The Key-value tags field on the Lightsail create instance workflow.
    Note

    For more information about key-only and key-value tags, see Tags.

  9. Choose Create instance.

To create an instance using the AWS CLI
  1. If you haven't done so already, install and configure the AWS CLI.

    For more information, see Configure the AWS Command Line Interface to work with Amazon Lightsail.

  2. Open a command prompt or a terminal window.

  3. If you haven't done so already, configure the AWS CLI using aws configure and select the AWS Region where you want to create your Lightsail resources.

  4. Type the following AWS CLI command to create a $40 USD per month Windows Server 2016 instance running in the Ohio region:

    aws lightsail create-instances --instance-names InstanceName --availability-zone us-east-2a --blueprint-id windows_server_2016_2017_09_13 --bundle-id medium_win_1_0

    In the command, replace InstanceName with the name of your new instance.

    If successful, you'll see the following output from the AWS CLI.

    { "operations": [ { "status": "Started", "resourceType": "Instance", "isTerminal": false, "statusChangedAt": 1508086226.4, "location": { "availabilityZone": "us-east-2a", "regionName": "us-east-2" }, "operationType": "CreateInstance", "resourceName": "my-windows-instance", "id": "344acdc8-f9c4-4eda-8232-12345EXAMPLE", "createdAt": 1508086225.467 } ] }
    Note

    To get a list of available blueprints, use the get-blueprints command. To get a list of available bundles, use the get-bundles command. Learn more about getting the password for your instance using the get-instance-access-details command.

Connect to your instance

Once you create your Windows Server-based Lightsail instance, you can connect to it using either the browser-based RDP client or the remote desktop client of your choice.

Note

After you create your instance, you may need to wait up to 15 minutes before you can connect to it.

To connect using the Lightsail browser-based RDP client
  1. Note

    The Lightsail browser-based SSH/RDP clients only accept IPv4 traffic. Use a third-party client to SSH or RDP into your instance over IPv6. For more information, see Connect to your instances

    On the home page, choose the Connect using RDP icon next to your instance.

    
            Lightsail connect.
  2. Alternately, you can connect to your instance from the shortcut menu or the instance management page.

To connect using your own RDP client
  1. To get your IP address, go to the Lightsail home page.

  2. Copy the IP address to the clipboard.

  3. Open an RDP client such as Remote Desktop Connection in Windows.

  4. Paste the IP address into the Computer field.

  5. Choose Show Options, and then type Administrator for your User name.

    
            Remote Desktop Connection application.
  6. Choose Connect.

  7. To get your password, go to the instance management page in Lightsail.

    You can get to the instance management page by choosing the name of your instance (or choosing Manage from the shortcut menu) on the Lightsail home page.

  8. Choose Show default password.

  9. Copy the default password to the clipboard.

  10. Paste your password into Remote Desktop Connection, and then choose Remember me to prevent this dialog box from appearing in the future.

    
            Remote Desktop Connection settings.
  11. Choose OK.

  12. Choose Don't ask me again for connections to this computer, and then choose Yes.