Unable to bring online EC2 sql server

I understand you're having trouble bringing your EC2 SQL Server instance online. This is a frustrating situation, but there are a few steps we can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue.

First, it's important to note that when an instance is stuck in the "pending" state, it usually indicates a problem with the instance launch process. Here are some steps you can try:

1. Wait for a few minutes: Sometimes, the instance may take longer than usual to start, especially if it's a large instance type or if there's high demand in the Availability Zone.

2. Check the instance status checks: In the EC2 console, look at the status checks for your instance. This might give you more information about why the instance is stuck.

3. Force stop the instance: If the instance remains stuck in the pending state for an extended period (e.g., more than 10-15 minutes), you can try to force stop the instance. You can do this through the EC2 console or using the AWS CLI. After forcing the stop, wait for the instance to fully stop, and then try to start it again.

4. Check your EBS volumes: Ensure that all attached EBS volumes are in a "good" state and that there are no issues with the root volume.

5. Review your security groups and network ACLs: Make sure there are no network-related issues preventing the instance from starting properly.

6. Check service health: Verify if there are any ongoing AWS service issues in your region that might be affecting EC2 instances.

7. Consult CloudWatch logs: If you have CloudWatch logs enabled for your instance, check them for any error messages or clues about why the instance isn't starting.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, you may need to consider creating a new instance from a recent backup or snapshot of your SQL Server. As a last resort, you can contact AWS Support for further assistance, especially if you suspect there might be an underlying hardware issue with the host machine.

Remember to regularly back up your SQL Server data to minimize potential data loss in situations like this.
Sources
Troubleshoot Amazon EC2 instance stop issues - Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud
Troubleshoot Amazon EC2 instance launch issues - Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud
Understand why an EC2 instance is unreachable before a degredation dedaline | AWS re:Post

If your EC2 SQL Server instance is stuck in the pending state, the issue could be related to resource limits, network misconfiguration, EBS volume problems, or underlying AWS infrastructure issues. By following the steps above, you can identify the root cause and resolve the issue by following the above steps from AWS Gen AI