Top 50 AWS CLI Commands List and Their Practical Uses

Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides a powerful Command Line Interface (CLI) that allows users to interact with various AWS services and resources from the command line. The AWS CLI is a valuable tool for automating tasks, managing resources, and gaining deeper control over your cloud infrastructure. In this blog, we will explore the top 50 AWS CLI commands and their practical uses, helping you leverage the full potential of AWS services.

Note: Before using the AWS CLI, ensure that you have it installed on your local machine and that you have configured it with the appropriate AWS credentials using aws configure.

1. aws ec2 create-key-pair

Use this command to create an EC2 key pair, which is essential for SSH access to your instances.

2. aws ec2 run-instances

Start new EC2 instances with this command, specifying the image ID, instance type, security groups, and other configuration options.

3. aws ec2 describe-instances

List details of running EC2 instances, such as their instance IDs, IP addresses, state, and tags.

4. aws ec2 stop-instances

Stop one or more running EC2 instances to save costs and preserve the instance's current state.

5. aws ec2 terminate-instances

Terminate EC2 instances to permanently delete them and their associated resources.

6. aws ec2 create-volume

Create an Amazon EBS volume to use as additional storage for EC2 instances.

7. aws ec2 attach-volume

Attach an EBS volume to a running EC2 instance to make it available for use.

8. aws ec2 detach-volume

Detach an attached EBS volume from an EC2 instance.

9. aws ec2 delete-volume

Delete an EBS volume that is no longer required.

10. aws s3 ls

List buckets and objects in an S3 bucket.

11. aws s3 cp

Copy files or directories to and from S3 buckets or between local and S3 locations.

12. aws s3 sync

Synchronize the contents of a local directory with an S3 bucket.

13. aws s3 rm

Remove objects or delete entire S3 buckets.

14. aws s3 presign

Generate a pre-signed URL for secure access to private S3 objects.

15. aws ec2 create-security-group

Create a security group to define inbound and outbound rules for EC2 instances.

16. aws ec2 describe-security-groups

Retrieve details of existing security groups.

17. aws ec2 authorize-security-group-ingress

Add inbound rules to an existing security group.

18. aws ec2 revoke-security-group-ingress

Remove inbound rules from a security group.

19. aws ec2 create-image

Create a custom Amazon Machine Image (AMI) from an existing EC2 instance.

20. aws ec2 describe-images

List and view details of available AMIs.

21. aws ec2 copy-image

Copy an AMI to another AWS region.

22. aws ec2 create-snapshot

Create snapshots of EBS volumes for data backup and recovery.

23. aws ec2 describe-snapshots

List details of EBS snapshots.

24. aws ec2 delete-snapshot

Delete EBS snapshots that are no longer required.

25. aws ec2 create-vpc

Create a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) for networking isolation.

26. aws ec2 describe-vpcs

Retrieve details of existing VPCs.

27. aws ec2 create-subnet

Create a subnet within a VPC.

28. aws ec2 describe-subnets

List details of subnets.

29. aws ec2 create-internet-gateway

Create an internet gateway to allow communication between your VPC and the internet.

30. aws ec2 attach-internet-gateway

Attach an internet gateway to a VPC.

31. aws ec2 create-route-table

Create a custom route table for a VPC.

32. aws ec2 associate-route-table

Associate a subnet with a custom route table.

33. aws ec2 create-nat-gateway

Create a NAT gateway to enable instances in private subnets to access the internet.

34. aws ec2 allocate-address

Allocate an Elastic IP address to use with EC2 instances.

35. aws ec2 associate-address

Associate an Elastic IP address with a running EC2 instance.

36. aws ec2 disassociate-address

Disassociate an Elastic IP address from an EC2 instance.

37. aws ec2 release-address

Release an Elastic IP address that is no longer required.

38. aws ec2 create-network-acl

Create a custom network access control list (ACL) for your VPC.

39. aws ec2 describe-network-acls

List and view details of network ACLs.

40. aws ec2 associate-network-acl

Associate a network ACL with a subnet.

41. aws ec2 create-db-instance

Create an Amazon RDS database instance.

42. aws ec2 describe-db-instances

List and view details of existing RDS instances.

43. aws ec2 delete-db-instance

Delete an RDS database instance.

44. aws ec2 create-db-snapshot

Create a snapshot of an RDS database instance.

45. aws ec2 describe-db-snapshots

List and view details of RDS snapshots.

46. aws ec2 restore-db-instance-from-snapshot

Restore an RDS database instance from a snapshot.

47. aws ec2 create-load-balancer

Create an Elastic Load Balancer (ELB) to distribute incoming traffic across multiple EC2 instances.

48. aws ec2 describe-load-balancers

List and view details of existing ELBs.

49. aws ec2 delete-load-balancer

Delete an ELB.

50. aws ec2 create-auto-scaling-group

Create an Auto Scaling group to automatically adjust the number of EC2 instances based on demand.

Conclusion:

The AWS CLI offers a comprehensive set of commands that empowers users to manage AWS resources efficiently and effectively. From provisioning EC2 instances and managing security groups to interacting with S3 buckets and RDS databases, the AWS CLI streamlines cloud operations and facilitates automation. By mastering these top 50 AWS CLI commands and their practical uses, you can elevate your AWS experience and optimize your cloud infrastructure like a pro.