In this guide, we'll dive into IAM Programmatic Access and how to set up the AWS CLI (Command Line Interface) to access and manage your AWS services more efficiently. These tasks are essential for automating processes, managing resources via scripts, and accessing your AWS environment programmatically. Let’s break it down step by step!

What is IAM Programmatic Access?

IAM (Identity and Access Management) programmatic access allows you to interact with AWS services from the terminal or other systems using AWS Access Keys and AWS Secret Access Keys. These credentials are necessary for applications and scripts to securely access AWS resources without needing to manually log in each time.

AWS Access Keys and Secret Keys

AWS Access Key ID: Acts as the username.
AWS Secret Access Key: Acts as the password.

These keys must be handled with care, as they provide access to your AWS resources. For more detailed steps on how to generate these keys, you can watch this video tutorial.

What is AWS CLI?

The AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) is a unified tool that enables you to manage AWS services from the command line. By using just one tool, you can control multiple AWS services and automate tasks through scripts. AWS CLI v2 brings enhanced features such as improved installers and new configuration options like AWS IAM Identity Center (successor to AWS SSO).

With AWS CLI, you can:

Manage your AWS services without logging into the AWS Management Console.
Automate common tasks using scripts.
Access services and resources programmatically.

Task 1: Create AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID and AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY from AWS Console

Step-by-Step Guide

Log in to your AWS Console.
- Go to the AWS Management Console.
- Enter your credentials and access the dashboard.
Navigate to IAM (Identity and Access Management):
- In the search bar, type "IAM" and click on it to open the IAM dashboard.
Create a New User:
- In the IAM dashboard, select Users from the left-hand menu.
- Click the Add user button.
- Choose Programmatic access under Access type.
- Set a username and proceed to the next step.
Attach Permissions:
- Choose the necessary permissions for your new user. For example, you can select AdministratorAccess or customize permissions based on your use case.
Review and Create:
- Review the user configuration and click Create user.
- Once the user is created, you'll see the Access Key ID and Secret Access Key. Make sure to download or copy these keys and store them securely. You will need them to set up the AWS CLI.

Task 2: Install AWS CLI and Configure Your Account Credentials

Now that you have your access keys, it’s time to install the AWS CLI and configure it with your account credentials.

Step-by-Step Guide to Set Up AWS CLI

Install AWS CLI:
- Windows:
  - Download the AWS CLI MSI installer from the AWS website.
  - Run the installer and follow the prompts.
- macOS:
  - Use Homebrew to install AWS CLI:
```
  brew install awscli
```
- Linux:
  - Use the following command to install AWS CLI v2:
```
  curl "https://awscli.amazonaws.com/awscli-exe-linux-x86_64.zip" -o "awscliv2.zip"
  unzip awscliv2.zip
  sudo ./aws/install
```
Verify AWS CLI Installation:
- Run the following command to confirm that AWS CLI is installed correctly:
```
  aws --version
```
Configure AWS CLI with Your Credentials:
- Open your terminal and run:
```
  aws configure
```
- Enter the following details when prompted:
  - AWS Access Key ID: Your AWS Access Key ID (created in Task 1).
  - AWS Secret Access Key: Your AWS Secret Access Key.
  - Default region name: Choose your preferred AWS region (e.g., us-east-1).
  - Default output format: Choose your preferred output format (e.g., json).
Test Your Configuration:
- Run a simple AWS CLI command to test if everything is set up correctly. For example:
```
  aws s3 ls
```
- This will list all S3 buckets in your account, confirming that your configuration works properly.

Conclusion

By completing these tasks, you’ve successfully set up IAM programmatic access and installed the AWS CLI to manage your AWS resources programmatically. With these tools in place, you can start automating tasks, managing services, and building scripts to streamline your workflow.

Day 42: IAM Programmatic Access and AWS CLI - A Step-by-Step Guide 🚀 ☁

Table of contents