Question

What is AWS CLI and what are its main uses?

Answer 1

The AWS Command Line Interface (AWS CLI) is a unified tool that provides a consistent interface for interacting with all AWS services using command-line commands. It allows users to control AWS services and manage their resources programmatically, automating repetitive tasks and workflows.

Main Uses of AWS CLI:

1. Resource Management:

   • Create, update, and delete AWS resources like EC2 instances, S3 buckets, RDS databases, and more.
   • Manage resource configurations and policies.

2. Automation:

   • Automate repetitive tasks by writing scripts.
   • Integrate AWS services into build and deployment pipelines.

3. Batch Operations:

   • Perform bulk operations such as uploading multiple files to S3 or launching multiple EC2 instances.

4. Querying and Reporting:

   • Retrieve and filter information about AWS resources.
   • Generate reports and export data in various formats (JSON, text, or table).

5. Configuration and Management:

   • Configure AWS services and settings.
   • Manage credentials and set up multiple profiles for different environments or roles.

6. Monitoring and Logging:

   • Access and manage AWS CloudWatch logs and metrics.
   • Monitor the status and health of AWS resources.

7. Development and Testing:

   • Quickly set up and tear down development and test environments.
   • Invoke AWS Lambda functions for testing purposes.