How to Set Up an SSH Server on AWS RoboMaker for Improved Accessibility
Introduction:
Welcome to our tutorial on configuring SSH login to a running container on AWS RoboMaker simulation jobs. AWS RoboMaker is a fully managed service that allows robotics developers to build, run, scale, and automate simulations without the need for infrastructure management. While CloudWatch offers important metrics and logs related to simulation jobs, accessing real-time status and logs often requires traditional methods. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps to install and run OpenSSH on AWS RoboMaker, allowing you to remotely access and troubleshoot logs and configurations. You will need a basic understanding of Docker and an AWS account with the necessary permissions. Let’s get started!
Full Article: How to Set Up an SSH Server on AWS RoboMaker for Improved Accessibility
Configure SSH Login to a Docker Container on AWS RoboMaker
AWS RoboMaker is a fully managed service that allows developers to build, run, scale, and automate simulations for robotics without the need to manage any infrastructure. While CloudWatch provides important metrics and logs related to simulation jobs, there is often a need for a deeper inspection within the running container. This tutorial will guide you through the process of configuring SSH login to a running container on an AWS RoboMaker simulation job, enabling remote shell access for troubleshooting and log inspection.
Prerequisites
Before getting started, make sure you have the following:
– Basic understanding of Docker, as this tutorial involves building a Docker image in an Ubuntu 20.04 environment.
– AWS account with necessary IAM permissions to create a Cloud9 development environment, create and push a container to an Elastic Container Registry (ECR), create a RoboMaker simulation application, and run a RoboMaker simulation job.
– Note that this tutorial may incur costs, so be sure to follow the clean-up steps at the end to avoid any surcharges.
Solution Overview
This tutorial will walk you through the following steps to configure SSH login to a Docker container on AWS RoboMaker:
1. Generate an SSH Key Pair on Cloud9.
2. Build a Docker image with OpenSSH.
3. Push the Docker image to the ECR.
4. Configure and run a simulation job in AWS RoboMaker.
5. SSH into the Docker container.
Generate an SSH Key Pair on Cloud9
To set up the Cloud9 environment:
1. Connect to your Cloud9 environment.
2. Run the following command in the Cloud9 terminal to create a new folder called “robomaker-sshdemo”:
“`
mkdir robomaker-sshdemo
“`
3. Generate an SSH key by running the following command in the Cloud9 terminal:
“`
ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096
“`
4. Follow the instructions on the command prompt and enter the complete location of the key file. For this tutorial, let’s assume the directory location is “/home/ec2-user/environment/robomaker-sshdemo/id_rsa”.
Build Docker Image with OpenSSH
Create a Dockerfile inside the “robomaker-sshdemo” directory with the following content:
“`
#SSH access to the running container on AWS RoboMaker
FROM osrf/ros:humble-desktop-full
RUN apt update && apt install -y openssh-server xterm vim sudo
RUN groupadd sshgroup && useradd -ms /bin/bash -g sshgroup sshuser && usermod -aG sudo sshuser
RUN mkdir -p /home/sshuser/.ssh
COPY id_rsa.pub /home/sshuser/.ssh/authorized_keys
RUN chown sshuser:sshgroup /home/sshuser/.ssh/authorized_keys && chmod 600 /home/sshuser/.ssh/authorized_keys
RUN sed -i ‘s/#Port 22/Port 1122/’ /etc/ssh/sshd_config
ENTRYPOINT [“/bin/bash”, “-c”]
“`
Run the Docker build command to build the image:
“`
sudo docker build -t sshdemo:latest .
“`
Push Docker Image to Elastic Container Registry (ECR)
In this step, we create an ECR repository to store the Docker image:
1. Run the following command to create an ECR repository on your AWS account:
“`
aws ecr create-repository –repository-name sshdemo
“`
2. Go to the ECR console in your AWS account and search for the “sshdemo” repository.
3. Choose “View push command” to see the commands needed to authenticate your Docker client to the registry and push the image. Run the commands as instructed.
Configure and Run Simulation Job on AWS RoboMaker
Now, let’s configure and run a simulation job on AWS RoboMaker:
1. Navigate to the AWS RoboMaker service in your AWS account.
2. From the left navigation menu, select “Simulation applications” under the “Development” menu.
3. Choose “Create simulation application” and enter “sshdemo” in the name field.
4. Choose “Browse ECR” and select “sshdemo” as the Amazon ECR repository. Then, choose “Create”.
5. From the left navigation menu, select “Simulation jobs” and choose “Create simulation job”.
6. For the IAM role, choose “Create new role” and enter “sshdemo” as the new IAM role name.
7. For VPC under Networking, choose the default VPC. For Security groups, choose the default security group, but make sure port 1122 is open for inbound communication.
8. For Subnets, choose any two subnets. Set “Assigned public IP” to “Yes” and choose “Next”.
9. Under Specify robot application, choose “None”. Under Specify simulation application, select “Existing applications” and choose “sshdemo”.
10. Enter the following command under Launch command:
“`
source /opt/ros/humble/setup.bash && ros2 run demo_nodes_cpp talker
“`
11. Expand the Simulation application tools section and choose “Customize tools”.
12. Add a tool with the following information:
– Tool name: Exploratory-xterm
– Command: /usr/bin/xterm -geometry 120×40
– Exit behavior: Restart
– Output settings: Enable UI Streaming, with output sent to Amazon CloudWatch
13. Under Simulation application connectivity, enter the following details:
– Simulation job port: 1122
– Application port: 1122
– Port type: Public
14. Choose “Next” and then “Create” to create the simulation job. Wait for the job to reach the RUNNING state.
SSH into the Docker Container
In this final step, you will SSH into the container running on AWS RoboMaker:
1. Go to the Simulation application tools and choose “Connect” under the Exploratory-xterm tool.
2. Execute the following command to start the SSH server:
“`
source /opt/ros/humble/setup.bash
ros2 topic list
service ssh restart
“`
3. Reset the password for the “sshuser”:
“`
passwd sshuser
“`
4. Copy the Public IP address from the Networking section of the running simulation job.
5. Open a local terminal, navigate to the location of the private key, and run the following command to SSH into the container:
“`
ssh -i id_rsa sshuser@<
“`
6. Elevate the privilege and run the following commands in the SSH terminal to explore the container:
“`
sudo -i
source /opt/ros/humble/setup.bash
ros2 topic list
“`
Congratulations! You can now SSH into the container running on AWS RoboMaker and explore logs, configurations, and perform various diagnostics and actions. Remember to follow the clean-up steps at the end of the tutorial to avoid any additional charges.
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we’ve learned how to configure SSH login to a Docker container on AWS RoboMaker. This feature allows robotics developers to troubleshoot and inspect running applications in real-time, reducing the cycle time for model development. To learn more about AWS RoboMaker and its capabilities, visit the AWS documentation.
Summary: How to Set Up an SSH Server on AWS RoboMaker for Improved Accessibility
AWS RoboMaker is a managed service that allows robotic developers to build, run, scale, and automate simulations without the need to manage infrastructure. While CloudWatch provides metrics and logs for simulation jobs, this tutorial explains how to configure SSH login to a running container on AWS RoboMaker to inspect real-time status, troubleshoot logs, and configurations. It covers the steps to generate an SSH key pair, build a Docker image with OpenSSH, push the image to an Elastic Container Registry (ECR), configure and run a simulation job, and finally SSH into the Docker container. This tutorial helps developers enhance their troubleshooting capabilities and reduce the development cycle time.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1: What is robotics and how does it work?
A: Robotics is a field of technology that involves designing, building, and programming machines that can perform tasks autonomously or semi-autonomously, mimicking human actions. Robotics combines various disciplines such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science to create intelligent machines called robots. These robots can perceive their environment, make decisions, and execute actions using sensors, actuators, and advanced algorithms.
Q2: What are the different types of robots?
A: There are several types of robots based on their application and functionality. Some common types include industrial robots used in manufacturing processes, medical robots assisting in surgical procedures or rehabilitation, autonomous vehicles for transportation, drones for aerial surveillance or delivery, and humanoid robots that mimic human actions. Each type serves different purposes, ranging from performing repetitive tasks to complex interactions with humans.
Q3: How is artificial intelligence integrated into robotics?
A: Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a crucial role in robotics by enabling machines to perceive their environment, learn from their experiences, and adapt to different situations. AI techniques, such as machine learning and deep learning, are used to train robots to recognize patterns, make decisions, and improve their performance over time. This integration allows robots to become more intelligent, flexible, and capable of handling dynamic and unstructured environments.
Q4: What are the potential benefits and challenges of robotics?
A: Robotics offers numerous benefits across various industries. It can increase efficiency and precision in manufacturing, improve healthcare outcomes through robotic-assisted surgeries, enhance exploration and research in space or hazardous environments, and support humans in repetitive or dangerous tasks. However, there are challenges associated with robotics, including ethical considerations, job displacement concerns, cybersecurity risks, and the need for continuous investment in research and development.
Q5: How can robotics impact society in the future?
A: Robotics has the potential to revolutionize various aspects of society in the coming years. It can transform industries, enhance productivity, and create new job opportunities in fields related to robot design, maintenance, and programming. Moreover, robots can assist in tasks that humans find difficult or dangerous, such as disaster response, elderly care, or space exploration. However, responsible deployment of robotics requires addressing ethical dilemmas, ensuring human-machine collaboration, and bridging the digital divide to prevent societal inequalities.
