Linux AWS CLI: Common Commands for Managing Linux Instances | Boost Your AWS Management Skills!

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on using the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) to manage Linux instances on Amazon Web Services (AWS). In this article, we will explore the power and versatility of the AWS CLI and how it can enhance your AWS management skills. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced user, this guide will provide you with a solid foundation for managing Linux instances using the AWS CLI.

Introduction

The AWS CLI is a powerful tool that allows you to interact with various AWS services from the command line. It provides a command-line interface for managing AWS resources, including EC2 instances, S3 buckets, RDS databases, and more. With the AWS CLI, you can automate tasks, create scripts, and manage your AWS infrastructure efficiently.

What is AWS CLI?

The AWS CLI is a unified tool that provides a command-line interface for interacting with AWS services. It is built on top of the AWS SDKs, which allows you to access and manage AWS resources programmatically. The AWS CLI provides a set of commands that you can use to perform various operations on your AWS resources, such as creating, starting, stopping, and terminating EC2 instances.

Why use AWS CLI for managing Linux instances?

Using the AWS CLI for managing Linux instances offers several advantages over other methods, such as the AWS Management Console or SDKs. Here are a few reasons why you should consider using the AWS CLI:

• Automation: The AWS CLI allows you to automate tasks and create scripts to manage your AWS resources. This can save you time and effort, especially when dealing with large-scale deployments.
• Flexibility: The AWS CLI provides a wide range of commands and options, giving you more control and flexibility over your AWS resources.
• Portability: The AWS CLI is platform-independent and can be used on any operating system that supports Python. This means you can manage your AWS resources from any machine with the AWS CLI installed.
• Scalability: The AWS CLI is designed to handle large-scale deployments and can easily scale to manage hundreds or even thousands of instances.

Common AWS CLI commands for managing Linux instances

Now let’s dive into some of the most common AWS CLI commands for managing Linux instances. These commands will help you perform essential tasks such as describing instances, starting and stopping instances, creating images, and more.

1. Describe Instances

The aws ec2 describe-instances command allows you to retrieve information about your EC2 instances. This command provides detailed information about each instance, including its instance ID, state, IP address, and more. You can use filters to narrow down the results based on specific criteria, such as instance type or tag values.

2. Run Instances

The aws ec2 run-instances command is used to launch new EC2 instances. You can specify various parameters, such as the instance type, AMI ID, security groups, and key pair, to customize the instance configuration. This command returns the instance ID of the newly launched instance.

3. Start Instances

The aws ec2 start-instances command is used to start one or more stopped instances. You can specify the instance IDs of the instances you want to start, or you can use filters to start instances based on specific criteria. This command returns the current state of the instances after they have been started.

4. Stop Instances

The aws ec2 stop-instances command is used to stop one or more running instances. You can specify the instance IDs of the instances you want to stop, or you can use filters to stop instances based on specific criteria. This command returns the current state of the instances after they have been stopped.

5. Reboot Instances

The aws ec2 reboot-instances command is used to reboot one or more running instances. Rebooting an instance is equivalent to performing a hardware reset. You can specify the instance IDs of the instances you want to reboot, or you can use filters to reboot instances based on specific criteria. This command returns the current state of the instances after they have been rebooted.

6. Terminate Instances

The aws ec2 terminate-instances command is used to terminate one or more instances. Terminating an instance permanently deletes it and cannot be undone. You can specify the instance IDs of the instances you want to terminate, or you can use filters to terminate instances based on specific criteria. This command returns the current state of the instances after they have been terminated.

7. Create Image

The aws ec2 create-image command is used to create an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) from an existing EC2 instance. An AMI is a template for launching new instances with the same configuration as the original instance. You can specify the instance ID of the instance you want to create an image from, as well as additional parameters such as the image name and description. This command returns the ID of the newly created image.

8. Describe Images

The aws ec2 describe-images command allows you to retrieve information about your AMIs. This command provides detailed information about each image, including its ID, name, description, and more. You can use filters to narrow down the results based on specific criteria, such as the image name or owner.

9. Copy Image

The aws ec2 copy-image command is used to create a copy of an existing AMI in a different region. This command allows you to replicate your AMIs across multiple regions, making them available in different geographical locations. You can specify the source image ID, the destination region, and additional parameters such as the image name and description. This command returns the ID of the newly created image in the destination region.

10. Deregister Image

The aws ec2 deregister-image command is used to deregister an AMI. Deregistering an AMI removes it from your account and makes it unavailable for launching new instances. You can specify the image ID of the AMI you want to deregister. This command does not delete the associated snapshots, so you need to manually delete them if you no longer need them.

11. Create Snapshot

The aws ec2 create-snapshot command is used to create a snapshot of an EBS volume. A snapshot is a point-in-time copy of the volume, which can be used to create new volumes or restore data in case of data loss. You can specify the volume ID of the volume you want to create a snapshot of, as well as additional parameters such as the snapshot description. This command returns the ID of the newly created snapshot.

12. Describe Snapshots

The aws ec2 describe-snapshots command allows you to retrieve information about your snapshots. This command provides detailed information about each snapshot, including its ID, volume ID, status, and more. You can use filters to narrow down the results based on specific criteria, such as the snapshot description or start time.

13. Delete Snapshot

The aws ec2 delete-snapshot command is used to delete a snapshot. Deleting a snapshot permanently removes it and cannot be undone. You can specify the snapshot ID of the snapshot you want to delete. This command does not delete the associated volume, so you need to manually delete it if you no longer need it.

14. Create Volume

The aws ec2 create-volume command is used to create a new EBS volume. An EBS volume is a durable, block-level storage device that can be attached to an EC2 instance. You can specify the volume size, availability zone, and additional parameters such as the volume type and encryption. This command returns the ID of the newly created volume.

15. Describe Volumes

The aws ec2 describe-volumes command allows you to retrieve information about your volumes. This command provides detailed information about each volume, including its ID, size, status, and more. You can use filters to narrow down the results based on specific criteria, such as the volume type or attachment status.

16. Attach Volume

The aws ec2 attach-volume command is used to attach an EBS volume to an EC2 instance. You can specify the volume ID, instance ID, and device name to attach the volume. This command returns the attachment information, including the device name and attachment state.

17. Detach Volume

The aws ec2 detach-volume command is used to detach an EBS volume from an EC2 instance. You can specify the volume ID and instance ID to detach the volume. This command returns the detachment information, including the device name and detachment state.

18. Delete Volume

The aws ec2 delete-volume command is used to delete an EBS volume. Deleting a volume permanently removes it and cannot be undone. You can specify the volume ID of the volume you want to delete. This command does not delete the associated snapshots, so you need to manually delete them if you no longer need them.

19. Create Key Pair

The aws ec2 create-key-pair command is used to create a new key pair. A key pair is a secure way to connect to your EC2 instances using SSH. You can specify the key pair name and the output format, which can be either PEM or DER. This command returns the private key, which you should save in a secure location.

20. Describe Key Pairs

The aws ec2 describe-key-pairs command allows you to retrieve information about your key pairs. This command provides detailed information about each key pair, including its name, fingerprint, and more. You can use filters to narrow down the results based on specific criteria, such as the key pair name or fingerprint.

21. Import Key Pair

The aws ec2 import-key-pair command is used to import an existing public key to create a new key pair. You can specify the key pair name, the public key material, and the output format, which can be either PEM or DER. This command returns the key pair fingerprint.

22. Delete Key Pair

The aws ec2 delete-key-pair command is used to delete a key pair. Deleting a key pair permanently removes it and cannot be undone. You can specify the key pair name of the key pair you want to delete.

23. Create Security Group

The aws ec2 create-security-group command is used to create a new security group. A security group acts as a virtual firewall that controls inbound and outbound traffic for your instances. You can specify the security group name, description, and VPC ID. This command returns the ID of the newly created security group.

24. Describe Security Groups

The aws ec2 describe-security-groups command allows you to retrieve information about your security groups. This command provides detailed information about each security group, including its ID, name, description, and more. You can use filters to narrow down the results based on specific criteria, such as the security group name or VPC ID.

25. Authorize Security Group Ingress

The aws ec2 authorize-security-group-ingress command is used to add a new inbound rule to a security group. An inbound rule allows incoming traffic from a specific source to a specific destination port. You can specify the security group ID, the IP protocol, the source IP range, and the destination port range. This command returns the updated security group rules.

26. Revoke Security Group Ingress

The aws ec2 revoke-security-group-ingress command is used to remove an existing inbound rule from a security group. You can specify the security group ID, the IP protocol, the source IP range, and the destination port range. This command returns the updated security group rules.

27. Delete Security Group

The aws ec2 delete-security-group command is used to delete a security group. Deleting a security group permanently removes it and cannot be undone. You can specify the security group ID of the security group you want to delete.

28. Create Tags

The aws ec2 create-tags command is used to add or overwrite tags for one or more resources. Tags are key-value pairs that you can assign to your AWS resources to categorize and organize them. You can specify the resource IDs, the tag key, and the tag value. This command does not return any output.

29. Describe Tags

The aws ec2 describe-tags command allows you to retrieve information about your tags. This command provides detailed information about each tag, including its key, value, and associated resources. You can use filters to narrow down the results based on specific criteria, such as the tag key or value.

30. Delete Tags

The aws ec2 delete-tags command is used to delete one or more tags from one or more resources. You can specify the resource IDs, the tag key, and the tag value. This command does not return any output.

Conclusion

The AWS CLI is a powerful tool for managing Linux instances on AWS. With its extensive set of commands, you can perform a wide range of operations, from launching and stopping instances to creating and deleting snapshots. By mastering these common AWS CLI commands, you can boost your AWS management skills and streamline your workflow.

FAQs

1. Can I use the AWS CLI on Windows?

Yes, the AWS CLI is compatible with Windows, as well as macOS and Linux. You can install the AWS CLI on your Windows machine and use it to manage your AWS resources.

2. How can I install the AWS CLI?

You can install the AWS CLI by following the official installation guide provided by AWS. The installation process varies depending on your operating system, but it generally involves downloading and running an installer or using a package manager.

3. Can I use the AWS CLI to manage resources in multiple AWS accounts?

Yes, you can use the AWS CLI to manage resources in multiple AWS accounts. You can configure the AWS CLI with multiple profiles, each representing a different AWS account. You can then specify the profile to use for each command, allowing you to switch between accounts easily.