aws_ec2_instances resource

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Use the aws_ec2_instances InSpec audit resource to test properties of some or all AWS EC2 instances. To audit a single EC2 instance, use aws_ec2_instance (singular).

Syntax

An aws_ec2_instances resource block collects a group of EC2 Instances and then tests that group.

describe aws_ec2_instances
  it { should exist }
end

Parameters

This resource does not expect any parameters.

Properties

Property	Description
instance_ids	The ID of the EC2 instance. The field name is instance_id.
names	The value of the Name tag if applied to the instance. The filed name is name.
vpc_ids	The VPC with which the EC2 instance is associated. The field name is vpc_id.
subnet_ids	The subnet with which the EC2 instance is associated. The field name is subnet_id.
instance_types	The type of instance, for example m5.large. The field name is instance_type.
entries	Provides access to the raw results of the query, which can be treated as an array of hashes.
tags	A hash, with each key-value pair corresponding to an EC2 instance tag, e.g, {"Name"=>"Testing Box", "Environment"=>"Dev"}. This property is available in InSpec AWS resource pack version 1.12.0 onwards. The field name is tags.
iam_profiles	The IAM instance profile associated with the instance. The role property of the aws_ec2_instance singular resource can be used to check the attached IAM role on the profile. The field name is iam_profile.

Examples

Ensure you have exactly 3 instances

describe aws_ec2_instances do
  its('instance_ids.count') { should cmp 3 }
end

Use this InSpec resource to request the IDs of all EC2 instances, then test in-depth using aws_ec2_instance.

aws_ec2_instances.instance_ids.each do |instance_id|
  describe aws_ec2_instance(instance_id) do
    it              { should_not have_roles }
    its('key_name') { should cmp 'admin-ssh-key' }
    its('image_id') { should eq 'ami-27a58d5c' }
  end
end

Filter EC2 instances with their Environment tags* equal to Dev, then test in-depth using aws_ec2_instance.

aws_ec2_instances.where(tags: {"Environment" => "Dev"}).instance_ids.each do |id|
  describe aws_ec2_instance(id) do
    it { should be_stopped }
  end
end

*Note that the filter won’t return the EC2 instances with multiple tags. In this case use regex: /{"Environment"=>"Dev"}/

Filter EC2 instances with a stop-at-10-pm tag regardless of its value, then test in-depth using aws_ec2_instance.

aws_ec2_instances.where(tags: /"stop-at-10-pm"=>/).instance_ids.each do |id|
  describe aws_ec2_instance(id) do
    it { should be_stopped }
  end
end

Filter EC2 instances with their name equal to Test Box, then check their role using aws_ec2_instance.

aws_ec2_instances.where(name: "Test Box").instance_ids.each do |id|
  describe aws_ec2_instance(id) do
    its('role) { should eq "test-role" }
  end
end

Matchers

For a full list of available matchers, please visit our Universal Matchers page.

exist

The control will pass if the describe returns at least one result. The field names described in the properties table should be used for the <property> in the where clause.

Use should_not to test the entity should not exist.

describe aws_ec2_instances.where( <property>: <value>) do
  it { should exist }
end

describe aws_ec2_instances.where( <property>: <value>) do
  it { should_not exist }
end

AWS Permissions

Your Principal will need the ec2:DescribeInstances, and iam:GetInstanceProfile actions set to allow.

You can find detailed documentation at Actions, Resources, and Condition Keys for Amazon EC2, and Actions, Resources, and Condition Keys for Identity And Access Management.