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What is AWS Systems Manager?

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AWS Systems Manager is a service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that helps you manage and control your infrastructure on AWS. It provides a unified user interface, allowing you to view and control your AWS resources. AWS Systems Manager simplifies resource and application management, helps you automate common operational tasks, and provides a centralized way to view and control your AWS infrastructure.

Here's a technical breakdown of key features and components of AWS Systems Manager:

  1. Resource Groups:
    • AWS Systems Manager allows you to create logical groups of resources using resource groups. These groups help in organizing and managing resources more efficiently.
  2. Run Command:
    • The Run Command feature enables you to remotely execute commands on your EC2 instances or other managed instances without requiring SSH or RDP access. It supports both Linux and Windows environments.
  3. State Manager:
    • State Manager allows you to define and maintain consistent configurations for your instances. It helps you automate the process of keeping your instances in a desired state, making it easier to manage configurations at scale.
  4. Automation:
    • AWS Systems Manager Automation allows you to create workflows that can automate common and repetitive tasks. These tasks can include patching, software installations, and other maintenance activities. Automation workflows are defined using JSON or YAML documents.
  5. Patch Manager:
    • Patch Manager automates the process of patching instances running in your environment. It supports both Windows and Linux instances and allows you to schedule and control the patching process.
  6. Session Manager:
    • Session Manager provides secure, auditable, and restricted access to instances without the need for open inbound ports, such as SSH or RDP. It allows you to start interactive sessions with instances directly from the AWS Management Console.
  7. Inventory:
    • Inventory helps you collect and query metadata about your instances, including details about installed applications, network configurations, and other system information. This information is valuable for auditing, compliance, and inventory tracking.
  8. Parameter Store:
    • Parameter Store allows you to securely store configuration data and secrets, such as database credentials or API keys. You can then reference these values in your applications, AWS CloudFormation templates, or other AWS services.
  9. OpsCenter:
    • OpsCenter provides a central location to view, investigate, and resolve operational issues and incidents. It aggregates and organizes operational data, making it easier to diagnose and resolve problems.
  10. Maintenance Windows:
    • Maintenance Windows allow you to define periods of time during which managed instances can be patched, updated, or have other maintenance tasks performed. This helps in controlling when updates are applied to your instances.