Getting started with the new AWS tools

AWS replaced their java based tool with a neat python package for linux (didn't try the windows based ones yet ...). Why are these tools nice ?! - written in python - support from one tool for all services - wizard configuration To get started

# use virtualenv or global
# this example shows virtualenv

$ mkdir AWS
$ virtualenv AWS 
...
$ source AWS/bin/activate

# install the tools from pypi

$ pip install awscli
...
# configure

$ aws configure
AWS Access Key ID [None]: XXXXXX
AWS Secret Access Key [None]: XXXXXX
Default region name [None]: us-west-1
Default output format [None]: json

$ aws ec2 describe-regions
{
    "Regions": [
        {
            "Endpoint": "ec2.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com", 
            "RegionName": "eu-west-1"
        }, 
        {
            "Endpoint": "ec2.sa-east-1.amazonaws.com", 
            "RegionName": "sa-east-1"
        }, 
        {
            "Endpoint": "ec2.us-east-1.amazonaws.com", 
            "RegionName": "us-east-1"
        }, 
        {
            "Endpoint": "ec2.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com", 
            "RegionName": "ap-northeast-1"
        }, 
        {
            "Endpoint": "ec2.us-west-2.amazonaws.com", 
            "RegionName": "us-west-2"
        }, 
        {
            "Endpoint": "ec2.us-west-1.amazonaws.com", 
            "RegionName": "us-west-1"
        }, 
        {
            "Endpoint": "ec2.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com", 
            "RegionName": "ap-southeast-1"
        }, 
        {
            "Endpoint": "ec2.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com", 
            "RegionName": "ap-southeast-2"
        }
    ]
}

# Done!

For more info the project is hosted at github.com The reference table Aws tools references and the home page at aws.amazon.com/cli.

Howto create an AMI from a running instance into Ec2 cli

In order to create an ami from an EC2 running instance you will need.

• certificate file from your aws account credentials
• private key for the cerificate file from your aws account credentials(you can download this only at certificate creation)
• access by ssh to your running instance
• access key for AWS
• access secret key for AWS
• any ec2 tools - I used amitools

# create the bundle under /mnt
ec2-bundle-vol -d /mnt -k /root/key.pem -c /root/cer.pem -u xxxxxxxxxxxx
# xxxxxxxxxxxx is your account number without dashes
ec2-upload-bundle -b YOURBUCKET -m /mnt/image.manifest.xml -a YOUR_ACCESS_KEY -s YOUR_ACCESS_SECRET_KEY
# register the ami so is available 
ec2-register -K /root/key.pem -C /root/cer.pem -n SERVER_NAME YOURBUCKET/image.manifest.xml
# this will respond with something like 
IMAGE   ami-xxxxxxxx

# At this point you can go into the aws console and boot a new instance from the ami you registered.<br />
# to deregister the ami 
ec2-deregister  ami-xxxxxxxx