New Training: Authoring AWS Systems Manager Command Documents for Automated EC2 Management

In this 6-video skill, CBT Nuggets trainer Trevor Sullivan explores Command documents in the AWS Systems Manager service. Watch this new AWS training.

Watch the full course: AWS Cloud Automation

This training includes:

• 6 videos

• 1.1 hours of training

You’ll learn these topics in this skill:

• Introduction to Authoring Command Documents in AWS Systems Manager

• Create Your First AWS Systems Manager Command Document

• Test AWS Systems Manager Command Document on EC2 Instances

• Create New Version of Existing AWS Systems Manager Command Document

• Change PowerShell Installation Method in Command Document

• Support Linux / Windows in AWS Systems Manager Command Documents

3 Three Document Types for AWS Systems Manager

AWS Systems Manager is a tool to help cloud engineers manage and automate their AWS infrastructure. Systems Manager can be automated through a variety of different mechanisms and shell environments, but first AWS Systems Manager needs to be configured for various automations to work properly. Before Systems Manager can be used effectively, documents need to be created for it first.

Documents are similar to a recipe for Chef or a Runbook in AWS. It's a template that explains how something works. There are three primary document types in AWS Systems Manager.

First, there is a Command Document. Command Documents are similar to a batch or shell script for Windows or Linux. It's a document that has a series of commands for working with and configuring other AWS resources.

Next, there are Automation Documents. Automation Documents are used when performing common maintenance and deployment tasks. These can be used for things like creating AMI images.

Finally, there are Package Documents. Package Documents are like repositories for applications. They contain zip files with applications that can be injected into things like AMIs.

Understanding the different types of documents available for Systems Manager and how they differ is an important concept for using it.