10/09/2023
Terminating an EC2 instance means permanently deleting the virtual server in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud. This action cannot be undone, and all data and configurations on the instance will be lost. It's important to take precautions before terminating an instance to avoid any unintended consequences.
Here are the steps to terminate an EC2 instance:
- Sign in to the AWS Management Console:
Go to the AWS console (https://aws.amazon.com/console/) and sign in with your AWS credentials.
- Navigate to EC2:
From the AWS dashboard, find the "Services" dropdown menu and select "EC2" under the "Compute" section.
- Locate the Instance:
In the EC2 dashboard, go to the "Instances" section. You should see a list of your instances.
- Select the Instance:
Click on the checkbox next to the instance you want to terminate to select it.
- Terminate the Instance:
With the instance selected, click on the "Actions" button at the top, then select "Instance State" and finally, click on "Terminate".
- Confirm Termination:
A confirmation dialog will appear. Read it carefully and then click "Yes, Terminate" if you are sure you want to proceed.
- Monitoring the Termination:
The instance will now be in the process of termination. You can monitor its state in the "Instances" section. It will first enter the "shutting-down" state and then eventually be terminated.
Remember:
- Data Backup: Before terminating an instance, make sure you've backed up any important data or configurations that you want to keep.
- Elastic IPs and Associated Resources: If you have an Elastic IP or any other associated resources, consider releasing or disassociating them before terminating the instance.
- Security Groups and Key Pairs: Note down any specific security group rules and key pairs associated with the instance, as you might need to recreate them if you launch a new instance.
- Check Dependencies: Ensure that there are no dependencies or services relying on the terminated instance.
- Billing Considerations: Terminating an instance will stop incurring charges for that instance, but be aware of any other associated costs (e.g., EBS volumes, snapshots, etc.).
Please be very cautious while performing this action, as it permanently removes the instance and its data. Always ensure that you have a backup or snapshot if you need to retain any information.