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Usage

When you run ec2gaming start the scripts:

• Bootstrap an instance from the public ec2gaming AMI, including creating security groups
• Launches RDP automatically

Once the first time setup is complete, start then:

• Brings up the gaming instance
• Connects the VPN
• Starts Steam

The ec2gaming launcher provides helpful commands to ease starting a gaming session, and maintain the instance:

macOS EC2 Gaming with Steam In-Home Streaming

usage: ec2gaming <command>

Gaming commands
start     Start gaming
stop      Stop gaming

Remote access commands
rdp       Remote desktop connection (no VPN, requires login)
vnc       VNC session (requires VPN, automatic login)

EC2 commands
instance  Get the instance id
ip        Get the IP address of the instance
price     Get the current lowest spot price
reboot    Reboot the instance
snapshot  Snapshot the instance and recreate AMI
terminate Terminate the instance

All supported commands
instance
ip
price
rdp
reboot
snapshot
start
stop
terminate
vnc
vpndown
vpnup

For help, go to https://www.reddit.com/r/cloudygamer/

EC2 Spot Instances

Keep in mind that everything runs on Spot instances, so your instance can be terminated at any time the price outpaces your bid, so:

• Consider running your first-time setup in the evening, where demand is low; or in a region with lower demand, and then copy the AMI using the AWS Console to your preferred gaming region
• Temporarily increasing the SPOT_PRICE_BUFFER setting to increase your bid over the current minimum spot bid
• Snapshot after each significant step

AWS resources and costs

Gaming on EC2 will use the following resources, all of which have some cost. You should:

• Read the AWS cost information for each of these resources yourself. If you're in your first year with AWS, both EBS snapshots and S3 puts/gets have some free tier allowance
• Be aware that there are ongoing costs even when you're not gaming
• Watch your billing information in the AWS Console and set up billing alerts if you're concerned about capping your spend

Resource	Costs
Spot instance	Per hour, up to a maximum of your bid. You're billed for full hours, even if you stop the instance part way through an hour. If the instance is terminated because your bid is exceeded, you're not charged. Make sure you stop when you're done!
Bandwidth	Will likely exceed your instance costs when gaming
EBS snapshot	Ongoing cost
S3	Ongoing cost for your Documents folder, and the requests to keep it synchronized