Running Chaos Experiments with AWS Systems Manager (SSM) Documents

Conducting chaos experiments using AWS Systems Manager (SSM) Documents is an effective way to enhance the resilience and reliability of your AWS infrastructure. In this step-by-step guide, we will focus on uploading SSM Documents to AWS, executing them, and viewing the results of your chaos experiments. We will utilize SSM Documents available from the GitHub repository by Adhorn, which provides pre-built documents for chaos experiments. Let's dive in!

Step 1: Access AWS Management Console

Access the AWS Management Console by visiting the AWS website and logging in with your AWS account credentials. Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to access and use AWS services, including AWS Systems Manager.

Step 2: Explore the Chaos SSM Documents Repository

Visit the GitHub repository by Adhorn (https://github.com/adhorn/chaos-ssm-documents/tree/master/run-command/windows) that contains a collection of SSM Documents specifically designed for chaos experiments in Windows environments. Take some time to explore the available documents to understand the chaos scenarios they cover and choose the document that aligns with your experiment goals.

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Step 3: Download the Desired SSM Document

From the GitHub repository, navigate to the
desired SSM Document file that corresponds to your chosen chaos experiment scenario. Click on the file name to view its content. Select the entire document content and copy it to your clipboard.

Step 4: Upload the SSM Document to AWS

Navigate to the AWS Systems Manager Console in the AWS Management Console. From the left navigation pane, select "Documents" under the "Shared Resources" section. Click on the "Create Document" button to start creating a new SSM Document.

Provide a meaningful name and description for the document, and select the appropriate document type (e.g., JSON or YAML). In the document content editor, paste the copied content from the downloaded SSM Document file. Make sure to validate the document for any syntax errors and ensure it adheres to the AWS SSM Document schema. Click on "Create Document" to upload and save the SSM Document in AWS.

Step 5: Execute the SSM Document

Go to the "Run Command" section in the AWS Systems Manager Console. Click on the "Run a Command" button to initiate the execution process.

In the "Command document" field, choose the SSM Document you uploaded in the previous step from the drop-down menu. Specify the target instances or resources on which you want to run the chaos experiment. You can select individual instances, tags, or even entire AWS resource groups.

If the SSM Document requires input parameters, provide them in the "Parameters" section. Review the available options, such as document timeout, output destination, and execution role, to ensure they align with your experiment requirements. Finally, click on the "Run" button to start the execution of the chaos experiment.

Step 6: Monitor the Chaos Experiment Execution

Once the chaos experiment is running, you can monitor its progress through the AWS Systems Manager Console. Navigate to the "Command History" section, where you can view the execution status, including the start time, duration, and execution output.

To gain deeper insights into the system's behavior during the chaos experiment, you can leverage AWS CloudWatch Logs and CloudWatch Metrics. Monitor relevant metrics and logs to identify any unexpected failures, performance degradation, or resilience patterns that emerge during the experiment.

Step 7: View and Analyze the Experiment Results

After the chaos experiment execution completes, go back to the "Command History" section in the AWS Systems Manager Console. Locate the specific execution corresponding to your experiment and click on it to view the detailed output.

Review the execution output carefully to understand the impact of the chaos scenarios on your system. Look for any errors, warnings, or relevant information that can provide insights into weaknesses or areas for improvement. This analysis will help you identify specific issues, performance bottlenecks, or potential points of failure in your AWS infrastructure.

Step 8: Iteratively Improve and Iterate

Based on the results of the chaos experiment, document your findings and identify areas for improvement. Analyze the impact on your system's resilience and use the insights gained to refine your architecture, configurations, or infrastructure. Iterate on the chaos experiment process by adjusting the SSM Documents or running additional experiments to validate the effectiveness of your improvements.

Conclusion:

By following these elaborated steps, you can successfully upload and execute SSM Documents in AWS for chaos experiments. Utilizing the pre-built SSM Documents from the GitHub repository by Adhorn provides a convenient starting point for conducting chaos experiments in Windows environments. Through careful monitoring and analysis, you can gain valuable insights to enhance the resilience and reliability of your AWS infrastructure.