How to Configure an AWS NAT Gateway for Private Subnet EC2 Internet Access

AWS EC2 instances in private subnets sometimes need internet access to download OS updates or reach external APIs, which requires a NAT gateway setup. A public NAT gateway, placed in a public subnet with an attached Elastic IP, allows private subnet instances to initiate outbound internet connections without being directly exposed. The traffic flows from the EC2 instance through the NAT gateway, then to the internet gateway, and finally to the internet. Correct route table configuration is critical: the private subnet must route 0.0.0.0/0 traffic to the NAT gateway, while the public subnet routes the same destination to the internet gateway. The NAT gateway must reach an Available status before any route table edits are made to ensure the setup functions correctly.
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