How can I set up ADManager Plus in my AWS environment?

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Objective

This article explains how to install ADManager Plus on an AWS instance. Running ADManager Plus in the cloud helps you manage Active Directory from anywhere, making it a great option for hybrid setups, remote teams, or organizations that want to reduce reliance on on-premises servers.

Prerequisites

  1. Have an active AWS account with permissions to launch and manage Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) instances.
  2. Have a supported Amazon Machine Image (AMI) with Windows Server 2016 or later.
  3. Have an Elastic IP (recommended) for consistent remote access to the instance.
  4. Have the latest ADManager Plus installer downloaded from the official ManageEngine website.
  5. Have an RDP client to connect to the Windows instance after deployment.
  6. The required ports are opened in the instance?s security group:
    • TCP 8080 for default web access
    • TCP 8443 if using secure HTTPS access
    • TCP 22 for remote management, if applicable

Steps to follow

Step 1: Launch an EC2 instance

  1. Log in to the AWS management console and go to the EC2 service.
  2. Click Launch Instance and select a Windows Server AMI (2016 or later is recommended).
  3. Choose an appropriate instance type (e.g., t3.medium).
  4. Configure instance details, add storage if needed, and select or create a key pair.
  5. Make sure the security group allows traffic on required ports (TCP 8080, 8443, and optionally 22).
  6. Launch the instance.

Step 2: Connect to the instance

  1. Once the instance is running, connect via RDP.
  2. Retrieve the administrator password using your key pair in the EC2 console.
  3. Use an RDP client to log in to the instance.

Step 3: Download and install ADManager Plus

  1. Open a browser within the instance and go to the official ManageEngine website.
  2. Download the latest ADManager Plus installer.
  3. Run the installer and follow the setup instructions.
  4. Choose the default port (8080) or specify a custom one.

Step 4: Configure ADManager Plus

  1. After installation, open http://localhost:8080 in a browser.
  2. Navigate to Directory/Application Settings > Active Directory.
  3. Add your domain, configure domain controllers, and set up authentication and other necessary settings.

Step 5: Enable external access (optional)

  1. To access ADManager Plus externally, use the instance's public IP or Elastic IP.
  2. Open the application using http://<public-ip>:8080.
  3. For secure access, configure HTTPS using a valid SSL certificate.

Tips

  • Create regular snapshots of your EC2 instance to ensure backup and disaster recovery readiness.
  • Configure ADManager Plus to start automatically when the server reboots.
  • Assign an Elastic IP to maintain consistent access and DNS mapping.
  • Monitor server performance and health using AWS CloudWatch.
  • Install an SSL certificate to enable secure access over HTTPS.