Diagnosing Failed Opswork Recipe Execution

Answer - C.

The AWS Documentation mentions the following.

If a recipe fails, the instance will end up in the setup_failed state instead of online.

Even though the instance is not online as far as AWS OpsWorks Stacks is concerned, the EC2 instance is running and it's often useful to log in to troubleshoot the issue.

For example, you can check whether an application or custom cookbook is correctly installed.

The AWS OpsWorks Stacks built-in support for SSH and RDP login is available only for instances in the online state.

For more information on Opswork troubleshooting, please visit the below URL:

http://docs.aws.amazon.com/opsworks/latest/userguide/troubleshoot-debug-login.html

When a recipe execution fails on an OpsWorks stack with Linux instances, there are several steps you can take to diagnose the reason for the failure:

A. Use AWS CloudTrail and check the OpsWorks logs to diagnose the error: AWS CloudTrail provides a record of actions taken by a user, role, or an AWS service in your account. This can help in identifying any changes or actions that were taken before the recipe execution failure. The OpsWorks logs can provide detailed information about the recipe execution process and any errors that occurred during the process. This can help you identify the root cause of the failure.

B. Use AWS Config and check the OpsWorks logs to diagnose the error: AWS Config is a fully managed service that provides a detailed inventory of your AWS resources and the configuration changes that occur in your account. It can help you identify any configuration changes that might have led to the recipe execution failure. Similarly, you can also check the OpsWorks logs to get detailed information about the recipe execution process and any errors that occurred during the process.

C. Log into the instance and check if the recipe was properly configured: Logging into the instance can provide valuable information about the status of the instance and any potential issues that may be causing the recipe execution to fail. You can check if the recipe was properly configured on the instance and if any dependencies or prerequisites were met.

D. Deregister the instance and check the EC2 logs: Deregistering the instance can help in identifying any underlying issues with the instance configuration that may be causing the recipe execution to fail. Once the instance is deregistered, you can check the EC2 logs to get detailed information about any errors or issues that occurred during the recipe execution process.

In summary, options A and B are more effective in diagnosing recipe execution failures as they provide detailed information about any changes or configuration issues that may have caused the failure. Option C can also provide valuable information about the instance configuration, but it may not provide a complete picture of the issue. Option D should only be used as a last resort, as it involves deregistering the instance, which can have other implications.