How to gain root access to the NLS AWS EC2 AMI?

[Dante]

Hello,

I am trying to evaluate Nagios Log Server, but I run into setup and configuration problems.

I followed "How To Create A Nagios Log Server Instance In The Amazon EC2 Cloud Environment" instructions and used EU-West version of the image. When I tried to SSH in the first time, I got the message:

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Please login as the user "cloud-user" rather than the user "root".

I was able to log in as cloud-user instead. I am also able to log in to Nagios Log Server web console.

The first time I needed root access when I wanted to fix system timezone. Right now, I need root access to install tcpdump to follow debugging instructions, otherwise I can not proceed with the evaluation.

How can I gain root access?

Thanks in advance.

[hsmith]

Does the command sudo su work?

[eloyd]

Have you tried

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sudo -i

or

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sudo su

?

Edit: Rats. Beaten by 60 seconds.

[Dante]

I have tried sudo su before.

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sudo -i
[sudo] password for cloud-user: 
Sorry, try again.
[sudo] password for cloud-user: 
Sorry, try again.
[sudo] password for cloud-user: 
Sorry, try again.
sudo: 3 incorrect password attempts

I have tried a bunch of default passwords that know of. What's the correct password?

[eloyd]

There is no root password on AWS instances. Have you tried following the part in the directions where it says:

When connecting you must use the username ec2-user NOT root. This user has full sudo access.

[Dante]

I did not try to log in as ec2-user because I got the following output.

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ssh -i key.pem -v XX.XX.XX.XX
.....
debug1: Remote: Forced command: echo 'Please login as the user "cloud-user" rather than the user "root".';echo;sleep 10
.....
Permission denied (publickey,gssapi-keyex,gssapi-with-mic).

Logging in as cloud-user worked. This has lead me to think that cloud-user is the updated name of ec2-user.

Logging in and gaining root access as ec2-user worked.
Thanks for the quick response!

[eloyd]

The underlying base AWS EC2 instance always has an ec2-user for RHEL derived OS installs. Glad I could help.

[rkennedy]

Thanks @eloyd!

Are we good to mark this thread as resolved, and close it out?

[Dante]

My issue was resolved. Thanks.