AWS re/Start Lab · Linux

Introduction to Amazon Linux AMI

This foundational lab establishes the standard workflow for connecting to an Amazon Linux EC2 instance using PuTTY on Windows. It also introduces the Linux command line interface (CLI) and the standard help system.

Lab Summary

Established an SSH connection to a Command Host running on Amazon EC2 via PuTTY using a downloaded PPK key. After logging in as ec2-user, utilized the man command to search and examine manual page headers and sections.

SSH Connection Setup

Downloaded the necessary credentials (.ppk file) and configured PuTTY with the instance's public IP to securely connect from a Windows environment.

Linux Manual Exploration

Navigated the standard Linux help system, identifying major headers like SYNOPSIS and DESCRIPTION and understanding the separation of manual sections.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Detailed documentation of the tasks. Note: This SSH setup process using PuTTY serves as the reference workflow for all subsequent Linux labs.

01

Use SSH to connect to an Amazon Linux EC2 instance (Windows)

  • Accessed the Vocareum lab environment and launched the lab. Selected Details > Show to open the Credentials window.
  • Chosen the Download PPK button and saved the labsuser.ppk authentication key.
  • Copied the PublicIP address/DNS from the credentials panel (e.g., ec2-54-245-186-15.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com).
  • Opened the PuTTY application and pasted the copied address into the Host Name field, keeping the port at 22 and connection type as SSH.
  • Loaded the downloaded .ppk key file into the Auth section to enable secure, password-less login.
PuTTY SSH configuration
PuTTY: Standard session configuration using public DNS and SSH key
  • Selected Open to initiate the connection and accepted the server's host key.
  • At the login as: prompt, entered the default Amazon Linux username: ec2-user.
  • Successfully logged into the Amazon EC2 Command Host.
SSH login successful
Terminal: Authenticated with public key and logged in as ec2-user
Reference: This exact PuTTY setup process will be used to access the Command Host in all future Linux labs.
02

Explore the Linux man pages

  • Executed the man man command to display the manual page for the standard help system itself.
  • Paging through the document, located the important headers that structure a man page, including NAME, SYNOPSIS, DESCRIPTION, OPTIONS, and SEE ALSO.
  • Examined the DESCRIPTION section closely, which outlines the 9 distinct section numbers of the manual (e.g., section 1 for Executable programs, section 8 for System administration commands).
  • Pressed q to exit the manual pager and return to the bash prompt.
man man output showing sections
man man: Exploring the DESCRIPTION header to identify the 9 numbered manual sections

Command Reference

Quick reference of the commands executed in the terminal.

cmd

man

Interfaces with the system's reference manuals.

  • man <command_name> : Opens the manual page for a specific utility.
  • Interactive Keys:
  • space or down arrow : Scroll down
  • up arrow : Scroll up
  • q : Quit the manual page viewer

Key Learnings

What Was Actually Learned

✓
How to retrieve authentication credentials from the lab environment.
✓
How to configure and connect via SSH using PuTTY on Windows.
✓
The correct default username for connecting to an Amazon Linux AMI (ec2-user).
✓
How to access the built-in system documentation using the man command.

Technical Conclusion

This lab established the essential prerequisites for working within a remote Linux environment. By successfully configuring an SSH client (PuTTY) with public key authentication, a secure connection was made to a cloud-hosted virtual machine.

Furthermore, exploring the man pages demonstrated how to independently research commands, understand their syntax, and identify available options, which is a critical skill for navigating any Unix-based system.