AWS Kinesis InvalidClientTokenId error encountered when accessing AWS Kinesis.

What is AWS Kinesis InvalidClientTokenId error encountered when accessing AWS Kinesis.

Understanding AWS Kinesis

AWS Kinesis is a platform on AWS to collect, process, and analyze real-time, streaming data. It enables developers to build applications that can continuously ingest and process large streams of data records in real-time. Kinesis is commonly used for log and event data collection, real-time analytics, and machine learning applications.

Identifying the Symptom

When working with AWS Kinesis, you might encounter the InvalidClientTokenId error. This error typically appears when attempting to authenticate or authorize requests to AWS services, including Kinesis.

What You Observe

Developers may see an error message similar to the following:

{ "__type": "InvalidClientTokenId", "message": "The security token included in the request is invalid."}

Explaining the InvalidClientTokenId Issue

The InvalidClientTokenId error indicates that the AWS access key ID provided in the request does not exist or is incorrect. This can occur if the access key ID has been deleted, is incorrectly configured, or if there is a typo in the credentials file.

Common Causes

The AWS access key ID is incorrect or has been deleted. The credentials file is misconfigured. There is a typo in the access key ID.

Steps to Fix the InvalidClientTokenId Error

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

Step 1: Verify AWS Access Key ID

Ensure that the AWS access key ID you are using is correct. You can verify this by checking the AWS Management Console:

Log in to the AWS Management Console. Navigate to the IAM (Identity and Access Management) service. Under Access management, select Users. Find the user associated with the access key and verify the access key ID.

Step 2: Check the Credentials File

Ensure that your AWS credentials file is correctly configured. The credentials file is typically located at ~/.aws/credentials on Linux and macOS, and C:\Users\USERNAME\.aws\credentials on Windows.

[default]aws_access_key_id = YOUR_ACCESS_KEY_IDaws_secret_access_key = YOUR_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY

Make sure there are no typos in the access key ID.

Step 3: Rotate Access Keys

If the access key ID is correct but still not working, consider rotating your access keys:

In the IAM console, select the user and navigate to the Security credentials tab. Create a new access key and update your credentials file with the new key. Delete the old access key to maintain security.

Additional Resources

For more information on managing AWS credentials, refer to the AWS IAM User Guide.

For troubleshooting AWS Kinesis issues, visit the AWS Kinesis Documentation.