Unlock the full potential of AWS with the AWS CLI—your gateway to managing cloud resources faster, smarter, and more efficiently. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, these essential tips will transform how you interact with Amazon Web Services.
What Is AWS CLI and Why It’s a Game-Changer
The AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) is a powerful, unified tool that allows developers, system administrators, and DevOps engineers to interact with Amazon Web Services directly from the terminal or command prompt. Instead of navigating through the AWS Management Console, users can execute commands to launch instances, manage storage, configure networks, and automate workflows—all with simple text-based instructions.
Developed and maintained by Amazon, the AWS CLI is built on top of AWS APIs, giving you direct access to over 200 AWS services. It supports scripting in Bash, PowerShell, Python, and other languages, making it ideal for automation, infrastructure-as-code practices, and CI/CD pipelines. Its flexibility and efficiency have made it a staple in modern cloud operations.
Core Features of AWS CLI
The AWS CLI isn’t just another command-line tool—it’s engineered for scale, security, and integration. Here are some of its standout features:
Unified Interface: One tool to control multiple AWS services—no need to install separate tools for EC2, S3, Lambda, etc.Scriptable & Automatable: Easily integrate into shell scripts or DevOps pipelines for repeatable, reliable operations.Output Formatting: Supports JSON, text, and table outputs, making it easier to parse results programmatically.Interactive Mode: Introduced in AWS CLI v2, this mode offers auto-suggestions, command completion, and guided workflows.Role-Based Access: Seamlessly works with IAM roles, temporary credentials, and multi-factor authentication (MFA).”The AWS CLI is the Swiss Army knife of cloud management—compact, versatile, and indispensable.” — Cloud Infrastructure Engineer, AWS Certified ArchitectHow AWS CLI Compares to AWS Console and SDKsWhile the AWS Management Console provides a user-friendly graphical interface, it can be slow and impractical for repetitive tasks..
The AWS CLI, on the other hand, enables bulk operations and automation that would be tedious or impossible via the GUI..
Compared to AWS SDKs (like boto3 for Python), the CLI is simpler to set up and use for one-off tasks. SDKs are better suited for embedding AWS functionality into applications, while the CLI excels at operational control and infrastructure scripting.
For example, launching 100 EC2 instances via the console would require clicking through dozens of screens. With the AWS CLI, it’s a single command or a short script. This efficiency is why the CLI is a favorite among DevOps teams and cloud engineers.
Installing and Configuring AWS CLI
Getting started with the AWS CLI involves two main steps: installation and configuration. The process varies slightly depending on your operating system, but Amazon provides clear documentation for all platforms. Let’s walk through the essentials.
Installation on Windows, macOS, and Linux
The AWS CLI is available in two versions: v1 and v2. AWS strongly recommends using AWS CLI v2, which includes enhanced features like automatic prompt detection, improved auto-completion, and built-in support for SSO (Single Sign-On).
On macOS: Use Homebrew for a quick install:brew install awscli
On Linux: Download the bundled installer from AWS:curl "https://awscli.amazonaws.com/awscli-exe-linux-x86_64.zip" -o "awscliv2.zip"
Then unzip and run the installer.
On Windows: Download the MSI installer from the official AWS CLI page and run it. It integrates with PowerShell and Command Prompt.
After installation, verify it works by running:aws --version
This should return the installed version and environment details.
Configuring AWS CLI with IAM Credentials
Before you can use the AWS CLI, you must configure it with valid AWS credentials. These credentials are tied to an IAM user or role and determine what actions you can perform.
Run the following command to start configuration:aws configure
You’ll be prompted to enter:
- AWS Access Key ID
- AWS Secret Access Key
- Default region name (e.g., us-east-1)
- Default output format (json, text, or table)
These credentials are stored locally in ~/.aws/credentials (on Linux/macOS) or %USERPROFILE%.awscredentials (on Windows). The configuration file is ~/.aws/config.
For enhanced security, avoid using root account credentials. Instead, create an IAM user with the minimum required permissions and use temporary credentials via AWS STS (Security Token Service) when possible.
Mastering AWS CLI Commands: Syntax and Structure
Understanding the syntax of AWS CLI commands is crucial for effective usage. Every command follows a consistent pattern that reflects the service, action, and parameters.
Basic Command Structure
The general format of an AWS CLI command is:aws [service] [command] [options]
For example:aws ec2 describe-instances --region us-west-2
- aws: Invokes the CLI.
- ec2: Specifies the AWS service.
- describe-instances: The action to perform.
- –region us-west-2: An optional parameter specifying the region.
You can chain multiple options, such as filters, output formats, and pagination controls, to refine your queries.
Common Global and Service-Specific Options
The AWS CLI supports both global options (applicable to all commands) and service-specific ones.
Global Options:
--region: Overrides the default region.--output: Sets output format (json, text, table).--profile: Uses a specific credential profile.--no-paginate: Disables automatic pagination.
Service-Specific Examples:
--instance-idsfor EC2 commands.--bucketfor S3 operations.--function-namefor Lambda.
Use aws help or aws [service] help to explore available commands and options.
Essential AWS CLI Commands for Daily Use
Once configured, you can start using the AWS CLI for real-world tasks. Here are some of the most frequently used commands across key services.
Managing EC2 Instances with AWS CLI
Amazon EC2 is one of the most commonly managed services via the CLI. You can launch, stop, terminate, and monitor instances with ease.
Launch a new EC2 instance:aws ec2 run-instances --image-id ami-0abcdef1234567890 --instance-type t3.micro --key-name MyKeyPair --security-group-ids sg-903004f8 --subnet-id subnet-6e7f829e
List all running instances:aws ec2 describe-instances --filters "Name=instance-state-name,Values=running"
Stop an instance:aws ec2 stop-instances --instance-ids i-1234567890abcdef0
These commands are invaluable for automating server provisioning and scaling operations.
Working with S3 Buckets and Objects
Amazon S3 is central to cloud storage, and the AWS CLI makes it easy to manage buckets and files.
Create a new S3 bucket:aws s3 mb s3://my-unique-bucket-name --region us-east-1
Upload a file:aws s3 cp local-file.txt s3://my-unique-bucket-name/
List all objects in a bucket:aws s3 ls s3://my-unique-bucket-name
Sync a local folder to S3:aws s3 sync ./my-folder s3://my-unique-bucket-name/backup
The s3 and s3api commands serve different purposes: s3 is high-level (like cp, sync), while s3api gives low-level API access for advanced operations.
Interacting with IAM and Security Settings
The AWS CLI allows you to manage IAM users, roles, policies, and credentials programmatically.
Create a new IAM user:aws iam create-user --user-name Alice
Attach a policy to a user:aws iam attach-user-policy --user-name Alice --policy-arn arn:aws:iam::aws:policy/AmazonS3ReadOnlyAccess
Generate temporary credentials using STS:aws sts get-session-token --duration-seconds 3600
These capabilities are essential for automating user provisioning and enforcing least-privilege security models.
Advanced AWS CLI Techniques for Power Users
For experienced users, the AWS CLI offers advanced features that enhance productivity, security, and automation.
Using Profiles for Multiple Accounts and Roles
If you manage multiple AWS accounts or roles, profiles help organize your credentials and simplify switching between them.
Create a new profile:aws configure --profile dev-account
Then use it in commands:aws s3 ls --profile dev-account
You can also configure role assumption in the config file:
[profile prod-admin]
role_arn = arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/AdminRole
source_profile = default
region = us-east-1
This allows seamless cross-account access without managing multiple access keys.
Scripting and Automation with AWS CLI
The real power of the AWS CLI shines in automation. You can write shell scripts to perform complex workflows.
Example: Auto-terminate idle EC2 instances
#!/bin/bash
INSTANCES=$(aws ec2 describe-instances --filters "Name=instance-state-name,Values=running" --query 'Reservations[*].Instances[*].[InstanceId,Tags[?Key==`Name`].Value|[0]]' --output text)
while IFS=$'t' read -r instance_id name; do
echo "Checking $instance_id ($name)"
# Add logic to check CloudWatch metrics or SSH activity
# aws ec2 terminate-instances --instance-ids $instance_id
done <<< "$INSTANCES"
Such scripts can be scheduled with cron or integrated into CI/CD pipelines using tools like Jenkins or GitHub Actions.
Leveraging AWS CLI with jq for JSON Processing
Since AWS CLI outputs are often in JSON, combining it with jq—a lightweight JSON processor—enables powerful data filtering and transformation.
Extract public IPs of running instances:aws ec2 describe-instances --filters "Name=instance-state-name,Values=running" | jq -r 'Reservations[].Instances[].PublicIpAddress'
Find all S3 buckets created in the last 30 days:aws s3api list-buckets --query 'Buckets[?CreationDate > `2023-03-01`].Name'
Using jq turns raw API responses into actionable insights with minimal code.
Troubleshooting Common AWS CLI Issues
Even experienced users encounter issues with the AWS CLI. Knowing how to diagnose and fix common problems saves time and frustration.
Authentication and Permission Errors
One of the most frequent issues is InvalidClientTokenId or AccessDenied errors. These usually stem from:
- Expired or incorrect access keys.
- IAM policies that don’t grant required permissions.
- Using a root account without MFA for sensitive actions.
Solution: Re-run aws configure, verify IAM policies, and use temporary credentials via STS or SSO.
Region and Endpoint Mismatch
If a resource isn’t found despite existing, check the region. AWS resources are region-specific.
Always specify the region explicitly:aws ec2 describe-instances --region us-west-1
You can also set a default region in the config file or use environment variables like AWS_DEFAULT_REGION.
Handling Pagination and Large Result Sets
Some AWS API calls return paginated results. By default, the CLI fetches only the first page.
To retrieve all results, disable pagination:aws s3api list-objects-v2 --bucket my-bucket --no-paginate
Or use --page-size and --max-items to control output size.
Best Practices for Secure and Efficient AWS CLI Usage
Using the AWS CLI effectively requires more than just knowing commands—it demands discipline in security, organization, and automation.
Use IAM Roles and Temporary Credentials
Never hardcode long-term access keys in scripts or environment variables. Instead, use IAM roles or temporary credentials from AWS STS.
For EC2 instances, assign IAM roles so the CLI can automatically assume permissions. For local development, use aws sts assume-role to get temporary tokens.
This minimizes the risk of credential leaks and aligns with zero-trust security principles.
Enable Logging and Audit Trails
Every AWS CLI command can be logged via AWS CloudTrail. Enable CloudTrail in your account to track who ran which command, when, and from where.
Combine this with AWS Config to monitor configuration changes and ensure compliance with organizational policies.
Regularly review logs to detect unauthorized access or misconfigurations.
Organize Commands with Scripts and Makefiles
For complex workflows, avoid typing long commands repeatedly. Store them in reusable scripts or Makefiles.
Example Makefile:
deploy:
aws s3 sync ./dist s3://my-website-bucket
aws cloudfront create-invalidation --distribution-id ABC123 --paths "/*"
Run with make deploy. This improves consistency and reduces human error.
Integrating AWS CLI with DevOps and CI/CD Pipelines
The AWS CLI is a cornerstone of modern DevOps practices. It enables seamless integration between development workflows and cloud infrastructure.
Using AWS CLI in GitHub Actions
GitHub Actions can run AWS CLI commands during CI/CD workflows. Use the aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials action to securely inject credentials.
Example workflow:
jobs:
deploy:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- name: Checkout
uses: actions/checkout@v3
- name: Configure AWS Credentials
uses: aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials@v2
with:
aws-access-key-id: ${{ secrets.AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
aws-secret-access-key: ${{ secrets.AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
aws-region: us-east-1
- name: Deploy to S3
run: aws s3 sync ./build s3://my-app-bucket
This ensures secure, automated deployments without exposing credentials.
Automating Infrastructure with Terraform and AWS CLI
While Terraform manages infrastructure as code, the AWS CLI can complement it by handling tasks outside Terraform’s scope—like triggering Lambda functions, managing secrets, or exporting logs.
Use the CLI to validate Terraform plans, check resource states, or perform post-deployment tests.
Example: After terraform apply, run:aws ec2 describe-instances --filters "Name=tag:Environment,Values=production"
This hybrid approach maximizes flexibility and control.
Monitoring and Alerting with AWS CLI and CloudWatch
The AWS CLI can retrieve metrics and logs from Amazon CloudWatch, enabling custom monitoring scripts.
Get CPU utilization for an EC2 instance:aws cloudwatch get-metric-statistics --namespace AWS/EC2 --metric-name CPUUtilization --dimensions Name=InstanceId,Value=i-1234567890abcdef0 --start-time 2023-04-01T00:00:00Z --end-time 2023-04-02T00:00:00Z --period 3600 --statistics Average
Create custom alerts by combining this with email or Slack notifications via AWS SNS or third-party tools.
This empowers teams to build tailored observability solutions without relying solely on GUI dashboards.
What is AWS CLI used for?
The AWS CLI is used to manage Amazon Web Services from the command line. It allows users to control EC2 instances, S3 buckets, IAM roles, Lambda functions, and hundreds of other AWS resources through text-based commands, enabling automation, scripting, and efficient cloud management.
How do I install AWS CLI on Linux?
On Linux, download the AWS CLI v2 installer using curl, unzip it, and run the install script. Alternatively, use package managers like pip (pip install awscli) or distribution-specific tools. Always prefer AWS CLI v2 for the latest features and security updates.
Can AWS CLI work with multiple AWS accounts?
Yes, the AWS CLI supports multiple profiles, each with its own credentials and configuration. You can switch between accounts using the –profile flag, and even configure role assumption for cross-account access, making it ideal for managing multi-account AWS environments.
Is AWS CLI secure?
Yes, when used correctly. Always use IAM roles, temporary credentials, and MFA. Avoid hardcoding access keys. Store credentials securely and enable CloudTrail logging to monitor CLI activity for audit and compliance.
How can I automate tasks with AWS CLI?
You can automate tasks by writing shell scripts, integrating with CI/CD tools like GitHub Actions or Jenkins, and combining the CLI with tools like jq for data processing. Scheduled tasks can be run using cron or AWS EventBridge.
Mastering the AWS CLI is a critical skill for anyone working with Amazon Web Services. From basic instance management to advanced automation in CI/CD pipelines, the CLI offers unmatched control and efficiency. By understanding its installation, command structure, security best practices, and integration capabilities, you can streamline cloud operations, reduce manual effort, and build robust, scalable infrastructure. Whether you’re a developer, DevOps engineer, or cloud architect, the AWS CLI is an indispensable tool in your toolkit—learn it, use it, and leverage its full power.
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