Everything you need to know about AWS Systems Manager (SSM) Agent

Introduction

In this tutorial, we'll explore AWS Systems Manager (SSM) Agent, a critical component for managing and automating tasks on Amazon EC2 instances and other resources. We'll cover its prerequisites, network architecture, connectivity options, and capabilities. By the end, you'll have a solid understanding of how to set up and utilize the AWS SSM Agent effectively.

Step 1: Understand AWS SSM Agent and AWS SSM Service

• The AWS SSM Agent is software that runs on Amazon EC2 instances and enables AWS Systems Manager to perform various management tasks.
• AWS Systems Manager provides a unified interface for managing and automating the administration of your AWS resources.
• It enhances operational efficiency and improves security by allowing you to manage resources without needing to log into instances.

Step 2: Review Prerequisites for Managed Nodes

• Ensure that your instances meet the following prerequisites:
  • Supported operating systems can be found here.
  • The instances must have the SSM Agent installed. For installation instructions, refer to the AWS documentation.
  • Ensure that IAM roles with the necessary permissions to use SSM are attached to your instances.

Step 3: Set Up Network Architecture and Connectivity Options

• Determine the connectivity options for your managed nodes:
  • Public Internet Access: Instances can connect to the Systems Manager service over the internet.
  • VPC Endpoints: For enhanced security, set up a VPC interface endpoint to connect privately to the SSM service. Instructions can be found here.
• Configure your security groups and network ACLs to allow traffic to and from the Systems Manager service.

Step 4: Explore the Capabilities of AWS Systems Manager

• AWS Systems Manager provides various capabilities, including:
  • Run Command: Execute commands on managed instances.
  • Session Manager: Establish secure shell access to instances without needing SSH.
  • Patch Manager: Automate the process of patching your instances.
  • Parameter Store: Securely store and manage configuration data.

Step 5: Install and Configure the SSM Agent

• To install the SSM Agent:
  • For Amazon Linux, use the following command:

    sudo yum install amazon-ssm-agent
    

  • For Ubuntu, run:

    sudo snap install amazon-ssm-agent --classic
    

• Once installed, ensure the agent is running:
  • Check the service status:

    sudo systemctl status amazon-ssm-agent
    

• If not running, start the service:

  sudo systemctl start amazon-ssm-agent
  

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we covered the essentials of AWS Systems Manager Agent, including its purpose, prerequisites, network setup, capabilities, and installation process. With this knowledge, you can effectively manage your AWS resources, automate tasks, and enhance security. For further exploration, consider delving into the specific capabilities of AWS Systems Manager to streamline your operational tasks.