Vite is a modern front-end build tool that offers lightning-fast performance for development and production. In this blog, you'll learn how to deploy a basic Vite app to an Amazon EC2 instance using Nginx.

Prerequisites

AWS Account
EC2 instance (Ubuntu preferred)
Domain (optional but useful)
SSH key for EC2
Basic knowledge of terminal, Vite, and EC2

Step 1: Create a Vite Project Locally

npm create vite@latest hello-vite -- --template vanilla
cd hello-vite
npm install
npm run build

This will generate a dist/ folder with the production build.

Step 2: Launch and Set Up an EC2 Instance

Launch an EC2 Instance:
- Use Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04.
- Assign a public IP and open ports 22 (SSH) and 80 (HTTP).
SSH into the EC2 Instance:

ssh -i /path/to/key.pem ubuntu@your-ec2-public-ip

Step 3: Install Nginx on the EC2 Instance

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nginx -y

Start and enable Nginx:

sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx

Step 4: Upload the Vite Build to EC2

From your local machine, use scp to copy the dist folder:

scp -i /path/to/key.pem -r dist ubuntu@your-ec2-public-ip:/home/ubuntu/

Step 5: Configure Nginx to Serve the App

SSH into EC2 again (if not already).
Move the build to the Nginx web root:

sudo cp -r /home/ubuntu/dist/* /var/www/html/

(Optional) Update the Nginx default config if needed:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/default

Make sure the root is set to /var/www/html and index.html is included.

Restart Nginx:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

🌐 Step 6: Access the App

Open a browser and go to:

http://your-ec2-public-ip

You should see your Vite Hello World page!

Bonus: Add a Domain and HTTPS (Optional)

Use services like Route 53 and Let’s Encrypt to attach a domain and install SSL.

Final Notes

This guide focuses on static deployment. For SSR, consider using Node.js with PM2 and reverse proxying.
Always configure firewall and security rules carefully.

How to Deploy a Vite "Hello World" App on AWS EC2 Step-by-Step