Recovery from lost EC2 PEM file: Difference between revisions

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=Introduction=
=Introduction=


This is a 10 step process that creates a new .PEM file, and copies it to the old EBS volue.
This 10-step process will enable access to an EC2 instance you have lost access to.
 
This assumes basic AWS / Linux knowledge.




==Take notes==  
==Take notes==  


Note down the AZ of the problem server, it's instance name and the ID of the root volume.
Note down the AZ of the problem server, its instance name, and the ID of the root volume.
 


==Make a recovery instance==  
==Make a recovery instance==  
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Create a new instance in the same AZ
Create a new instance in the same AZ
Create a new key pair for the instance and download it.
Create a new key pair for the instance and download it.
Dont loose the .PEM file again!!!
Don't lose the.PEM file again!!!
 


==Make recovery instance accessable==
==Make recovery instance accessable==


Give the recovery instance an exernal IP and assign security groups.
Give the recovery instance an external IP and assign security groups.
 


==Stop the old instance==
==Stop the old instance==
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Stop the old instance.  
Stop the old instance.  
Don't delete it!
Don't delete it!


==Detatch the root vloume==
==Detatch the root vloume==


Detatch the root valoue from the old instance
Detach the root volume from the old instance
Attach it to the recovery instance - it is best to use /xvdf
Attach it to the recovery instance - it is best to use /xvdf


==Mount the root volume===
 
==Mount the root volume==


use lsblk to find the root volume, it shoud be /dev/xvdf1
use lsblk to find the root volume, it shoud be /dev/xvdf1




===Make the Magic happen===
==Make the Magic happen==


Copy the certs:
Copy the certs:
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  cp .ssh/authorized_keys /mnt/recovery_vol/home/ubuntu/.ssh/authorized_keys
  cp .ssh/authorized_keys /mnt/recovery_vol/home/ubuntu/.ssh/authorized_keys


==Move the volume back===


Stop the recoverey instance
==Move the volume back==
 
Stop the recovery instance
Detach the volume from the old server
Detach the volume from the old server
Attach the volume back on the old server
Attach the volume back on the old server


==Start the old server==
==Start the old server==
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Sart the original instance
Sart the original instance
Connect with the new .PEM file
Connect with the new .PEM file


==Cleanup==
==Cleanup==
Terminate and the recovery instance
Terminate the recovery instance

Latest revision as of 21:07, 8 November 2024

Introduction

This 10-step process will enable access to an EC2 instance you have lost access to.

This assumes basic AWS / Linux knowledge.


Take notes

Note down the AZ of the problem server, its instance name, and the ID of the root volume.


Make a recovery instance

Create a new instance in the same AZ Create a new key pair for the instance and download it. Don't lose the.PEM file again!!!


Make recovery instance accessable

Give the recovery instance an external IP and assign security groups.


Stop the old instance

Stop the old instance. Don't delete it!


Detatch the root vloume

Detach the root volume from the old instance Attach it to the recovery instance - it is best to use /xvdf


Mount the root volume

use lsblk to find the root volume, it shoud be /dev/xvdf1


Make the Magic happen

Copy the certs:

sudo mkdir /mnt/removery_vol
sudo mount /dev/xvdf1	/mnt/recovery_vol
cp .ssh/authorized_keys /mnt/recovery_vol/home/ubuntu/.ssh/authorized_keys


Move the volume back

Stop the recovery instance Detach the volume from the old server Attach the volume back on the old server


Start the old server

Sart the original instance Connect with the new .PEM file


Cleanup

Terminate the recovery instance