What is the first step that should be completed when troubleshooting an instance connection that timed out?

The first step when troubleshooting an instance connection that timed out is to check your routes. This is essential because proper routing is critical for ensuring that the instance can communicate with other systems, including clients attempting to connect to it. An incorrect route can prevent the instance from receiving incoming traffic or sending outgoing responses, which would result in a timeout during connection attempts.

In the context of troubleshooting, verifying the routes allows you to ensure that the traffic is correctly directed and that there are no network configuration issues preventing access. By confirming that the routing tables and destination checks are appropriately configured, you eliminate one of the common causes of connectivity issues.

Once you have ensured that routing is correctly set up, other factors such as security group settings or instance configurations can be examined if the problem persists. However, starting with routes addresses the foundational aspect of network connectivity.