EC2 InvalidKeyPair.NotFound error when launching an EC2 instance.

What is EC2 InvalidKeyPair.NotFound error when launching an EC2 instance.

Understanding Amazon EC2 and Its Purpose

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) is a web service that provides resizable compute capacity in the cloud. It is designed to make web-scale cloud computing easier for developers. With EC2, you can launch virtual servers, known as instances, to run applications on the AWS infrastructure.

Identifying the Symptom: InvalidKeyPair.NotFound

When launching an EC2 instance, you might encounter the InvalidKeyPair.NotFound error. This error indicates that the specified key pair does not exist or is incorrect. As a result, the instance launch process is halted, preventing access to the instance.

What You Observe

During the instance launch process, you receive an error message stating: "The key pair 'your-key-pair-name' does not exist". This message indicates that the key pair specified is not recognized by the EC2 service.

Explaining the Issue: InvalidKeyPair.NotFound

The InvalidKeyPair.NotFound error occurs when the key pair name provided during the instance launch does not match any existing key pairs in your AWS account. Key pairs are essential for securely accessing your EC2 instances, as they are used for SSH authentication.

Common Causes

The key pair name is misspelled or incorrect. The key pair was deleted or not created in the specified region. The key pair belongs to a different AWS account.

Steps to Fix the InvalidKeyPair.NotFound Issue

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

Step 1: Verify the Key Pair Name

Ensure that the key pair name you are using is correct. Double-check for any typos or case sensitivity issues. You can list your existing key pairs using the AWS Management Console or AWS CLI:

aws ec2 describe-key-pairs --region your-region

This command will display all key pairs available in the specified region.

Step 2: Create a New Key Pair if Necessary

If the key pair does not exist, you can create a new one. In the AWS Management Console, navigate to the EC2 Dashboard, then click on Key Pairs under Network & Security. Click Create Key Pair and follow the prompts to generate a new key pair.

Alternatively, use the AWS CLI:

aws ec2 create-key-pair --key-name new-key-pair-name --region your-region

This command will create a new key pair and output the private key material, which you should save securely.

Additional Resources

For more information on managing key pairs, refer to the AWS EC2 Key Pairs Documentation. If you need further assistance, consider visiting the AWS Support Center.