Elasticfox Firefox Extension for Amazon EC2
 |
This is a Mozilla Firefox extension for interacting with Amazon EC2 (API version 2008-08-08). The source code
also functions as an example of how to use the Amazon EC2 Query API from
JavaScript.
| Submitted By: |
Manoj@AWS
|
| AWS Products Used: |
Amazon EC2 |
| Language(s): |
JavaScript/AJAX |
| License: |
Apache License 2.0 |
| Source Control Access: |
svn co https://elasticfox.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/elasticfox elasticfox |
|
|
|
About this Project
- Provides basic Amazon EC2 management features within Mozilla Firefox.
- List available AMIs
- List your running instances
- Launch new instances of an AMI
- Manage security groups and launch permissions associated with your instances
- Manage Amazon EBS volumes
- Use the packaged .xpi file to easily install the plugin in Firefox.
- View the source code on SourceForge: http://sourceforge.net/projects/elasticfox/. Some JavaScript highlights include:
content/ec2ui/client.js - Contains logic to construct and sign requests to Amazon EC2. content/ec2ui/controller.js - Contains the logic to un-pack Amazon EC2 responses.
What's New
- Support for EC2 API version 2008-08-08: Amazon EC2 running Windows Server and SQL Server
- Support for API version 2008-05-05: Amazon Elastic Block Store
- Support for API version 2008-02-01: Elastic IP Addresses, Availability Zones, and User Selectable Kernels
- Support for c1.medium and c1.xlarge instance types
- Support for Firefox 3.0
Prerequisites
- This extension requires Mozilla Firefox version 1.5.0 or later.
Running the Extension
Install the extension by clicking on the following link with Mozilla Firefox:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/ec2-downloads/elasticfox.xpiFirefox guides you through the installation process. You may need to configure Firefox to install software from this domain.
Documentation
Read the ElasticFox Getting Started Guide for information on using the extension.
|
Posts:
12
Registered:
11/4/08
|
|
|
|
Re: Firefox Extension for Amazon EC2 and Firefox 3.0
Posted:
Nov 8, 2008 11:50 PM PST
in response to: pcskidude
|
|
|
@pcskidude
I believe you are correct regarding having to re-enter your credentials due to clearing your passwords. I had the same problem and finally figured out that if I disabled the clearing, added my information, and then turned on clearing again that it would work.
|
|
Posts:
2
Registered:
11/11/08
|
|
|
|
Re: Firefox Extension for Amazon EC2 and Firefox 3.0
Posted:
Nov 12, 2008 10:07 AM PST
in response to: johnfjohnf
|
|
|
I am running the latest version on OSX, and I am finding that when I try and SSH connect, I am getting challenged for a password for the ssh keys.
Is this correct? When the keypair was generated I was never prompted for a password to use. Any ideas?
|
|
Posts:
2
Registered:
11/11/08
|
|
|
|
Re: Firefox Extension for Amazon EC2 and Firefox 3.0
Posted:
Nov 14, 2008 9:28 AM PST
in response to: Kevin M. Workman
|
|
|
Looks like I answered my own question, and found a bug in the process.
It seems that (on OSX) when the keypair is generated and saved its being saved in some way that is encoded in a character set that SSH doesn't like.
When I was trying to connect before, I was prompted for a password, but not by the AMI, but by my host OS asking for a password to the ssh key.
I found a posting on the net with someone on the mac with the same issue, and the way they got around it was by using this command to pipe the output to SED.
"ec2-add-keypair econ-keypair | sed '1d' > econ-keypair"
This generates the key just fine, and I don't run into the issue.
So if anyone else is seeing this, the above command is the secret sauce that got it working on my Mac's flawlessly.
Cheers
|
|
Posts:
1
Registered:
11/5/08
|
|
|
|
Re: Firefox Extension for Amazon EC2 and Firefox 3.0.4
Posted:
Nov 21, 2008 8:55 AM PST
in response to: johnfjohnf
|
|
|
I've installed the Elasticfox 1.6.000086 plugin on three computers (one mac, two PCs), and I am not able to switch tabs within the interface. All are running Firefox 3.0.4.
The only tab I am able to view is the "AMIs and Instances" tab. If I try to click on "Kernels and Ramdisks", or "KeyPairs", or any other tab, nothing happens.
I've enabled debug mode for the plugin, however I do not see any errors on my error console.
I've registered my Amazon account, as well. No difference, there, either.
Is the plugin broken? Or am I doing something wrong?
|
|
Posts:
1
Registered:
8/16/08
|
|
|
|
Re: Firefox Extension for Amazon EC2 and Firefox 3.0.4
Posted:
Nov 30, 2008 8:57 AM PST
in response to: Ian Zabel
|
|
|
I'm running Firefox 3.0.4 on Windows XP SP3 and I can view all ElasticFox tabs. So, if the plugin is broken, it's at least not 100% broken.
|
|
|
|
VERY easy to use, Mar 3, 2007 11:20 PM
Reviewer: davidbullock@tech-center.com
The only part of the process not made very very simple and easy is key generation. I wanted to give this 5 stars, and this is all that stood in my way.
The extension comes with the ability to generate key pairs. I tried several times without success to get this working and I could not log in to the instances I SO easily created. I could not import the PEM file that EC2UI produced to convert it to PuTTY format.
After converting the PEM file to DOS format (I am running WinXP and using UltraEdit) PuTTYGen worked fine in importing the private key.
Other than that every other part of the process was made foolproof even for me to use.
|
|
Fantastic tool - now I'm sunk, May 12, 2007 7:36 AM
Reviewer: Monty Taylor
So the ec2ui tool is absolutely fantastic. It allows you to do all the things you need to and worry about what your instances are doing rather than keeping up with which ID belongs to what.
However, after no upgrades or other system changes, I woke up this morning and it has stopped working. I can't even launch it anymore. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling it. I tried disabling all of my other Firefox extensions. Nothing. Anybody at AWS wanna help out?
|
|
Excellent - one possible addition, Jun 7, 2007 9:31 AM
Reviewer: robgilchrist
Hi
I have been using the EC2 UI for a couple of months and its a brilliant. Saves me so much time and allows me to instantly see what instances I'm running.
A feature that would make it perfect for me, is if you could provide a name for each instance. Any Chance??
Thanks
Rob
|
|
Won't restart, Jun 11, 2007 10:36 PM
Reviewer: Andrew Jones
I liked what I saw the 1st time it loaded and worked but then when I restarted Firefox like the previous poster mentioned Firefox freezes when I try to use the plug in. I have XP Pro SP2 and FireFox 2.0.0.4.
If there is an update let me know. I uninstalled and reinstalled the plugin but it still froze Firefox. So thus the 2 stars.
|
|
Awesome and Invaluable Tool, Jun 12, 2007 10:21 AM
Reviewer: T. Reeder
Great job. This is a must have for any EC2 user.
|
|
Looks great!, Jul 9, 2007 6:22 PM
Reviewer: islanding
But, I can not get it to work? No documentation? No help file?
Sorry........
|
|
managing acl rights work only on windows, Jul 10, 2007 8:11 AM
Reviewer: dwebsubmit
I recently tried to use this plugins from ubuntu and my mac and couldn't get it to work. I could upload files but couldn't alter the acl rights.
|
|
Very useful functionality but installation sucks, Jul 19, 2007 12:44 PM
Reviewer: jeda2
I'm giving only 2 stars because of the lack of documentation and improper extension metadata. I had the older EC2UI extension installed which had version 1.2.9xxx. The newer extension with private and public DNS columns is listed as version 1.2.1xxx. This means that Firefox won't install the lower version (but newer) extension over the higher version (but older) extension.
You have to go to your profiles\xxxx\extensions directory and delete the {2204c510-88f3-11db-b606-0800200c9a66} directory before installing this. So 2 stars for wasting my time like that.
|
|
Works perfectly!, Jul 30, 2007 11:33 AM
Reviewer: hessml
It took all of 2 minutes to configure. I think the problem is that people haven't already setup their keys so that they can work through the command line. Follow the amazon ec2 tutorial first so that you can connect then go back and use the GUI.
My wish is that I could launch an ssh terminal by double clicking an instance.
|
|
Great tool, Aug 20, 2007 12:21 PM
Reviewer: nmdave
The Firefox UI makes everything so much easier. I want to second the request of the previous writer- some sort of mouse operation to launch putty or ssh from the instance listed in the ui.
|
|
Great Tool, But..., Aug 29, 2007 7:58 PM
Reviewer: joel1198
It would be PERFECT to have SSH from this app. That's like 10 stars!!
|
|
Great utility, Sep 21, 2007 6:09 AM
Reviewer: repoleved
Easy to set up, and works perfectly. Like someone said earier, launching SSH clients would be a great addition.
|
|
Less Typing for Me, Oct 6, 2007 9:16 PM
Reviewer: twkelvinn
Thanks for creating this extension, it sure makes accessing EC2 much less painful. Before diving into the extension I recommend everybody read the "Getting Started" guide, and poking around with one of the various CLI tools available. Regardless, very simple extension to configure and use. Works great on Ubuntu Gutsy w/ FF 2.0.0.6
|
|
If you are having troubles getting it to run, Oct 25, 2007 6:47 PM
Reviewer: donalvarez
You can follow this link to a tutorial on using the extension http://developer.amazonwebservices.com/connect/thread.jspa?threadID=17717&tstart=0
|
|
would be nice if the password entries stripped trailing spaces, Nov 23, 2007 6:54 AM
Reviewer: Steve Loughran
This is a nice gui, but they ought to call .trim() on the AWS account ID and secret key, because it is easy to get trailing spaces in on either when copying and pasting from the AWS account page. And because the secret key is displayed as ******** you dont notice.
|
|
Good show, Nov 30, 2007 2:40 PM
Reviewer: L. Edelstein
So far I've found it to be quite handy - a nice way to start and stop instances and deal with permissions. I haven't tried making my own AMI yet.
But today Firefox is up to 2.0.0.10 and it's telling me that the extension isn't compatible. The extension is disabled!
|
|
Indispensable, Dec 10, 2007 2:01 PM
Reviewer: Eric Hammond
I could live without this plugin, but life would be a bit more dreary. Thank you!
|
|
Totally indispensable!, Dec 28, 2007 6:12 PM
Reviewer: dc_guy
Best EC2 utility, period.
|
|
Secure?, Jan 19, 2008 6:35 AM
Reviewer: ivrokv
How secure is it? Security is relative but, since we store the AWS credentials using this extension, is it prone to hacking etc more easily than it normally is?
|
|
Very Useful..., Jan 25, 2008 3:06 PM
Reviewer: Gabriel Kent
To answer a previous post, I believe they are storing credentials using the standard FF user/pass store method...meaning the data should be encrypted like any other credentials you have stored in FF....if you have set a master password in FF (which is highly recommended).
|
|
Just a couple of Nits..., Feb 9, 2008 9:28 PM
Reviewer: thepappas
Fantastic Tool! I was able to get up and going in no time! Only a few things that got me after my first hour or so with this:
1. Ability to import existing PEM, can create, but not simply load an existing PEM set.
2. Tab overwrite. It would be less disruptive if the tool started its own (new) tab, rather than usurping the existing tab.
3. Editable Security Groups Name or Description after creation? If this is an EC2 limitation, so be it.
That is really it. Otherwise, it gets the job done, and done effectively.
|
|
root lossh login, Feb 17, 2008 10:34 AM
Reviewer: kekekekeke
I cannot seems to login as root after registering my instance.
OS: mac
ssh -2 -i id_rsa-gsg-keypair root@ec2-xxxxxx.compute-1.amazonaws.com
|
|
Great stuff, Feb 22, 2008 10:51 PM
Reviewer: gsais
This tool is really awesome. However, I'm having some problems on making the "Open SSH Connection" button to work under Windows XP with Firefox 2.0.0.8 - it simply doesn't do anything, no error message, no window, no nothing! I've tried everything that has crossed my mind in the "Manage local tools" configuration window: absolute paths, relative paths, Windows-style paths, linux-style paths, console applications, GUI applications, etc. Does anybody knows what's the trick?
Thanks in advance
|
|
Very good start, Mar 24, 2008 6:02 AM
Reviewer: Macro books
as mentioned by others, here, SSH seems to be an issue,
As well working from standard bash, I can not seem to access the server instance,
using various access methods, defining, the pem files, ect, no joy, anyone successfully
connected, with an instance loaded from this UI?
|
|
FF3 FTW, Apr 23, 2008 9:46 AM
Reviewer: Mark Baseggio
Please, please release a version compatible with FF3! Thanks
|
|
Works with Firefox 3, Jul 1, 2008 4:24 PM
Reviewer: PJ Cabrera
I just wanted to post this so there would not be any doubts.
The latest version works with FF3. Works great with Mac OS X and Linux, YMMV with Windows XP or Vista.
|
|
Simple and easy., Sep 26, 2008 1:52 PM
Reviewer: howtocloud
It took about a day to get ElasticFox down. It's very easy to use. I made screenshots and a walkthrough for it here: http://www.howtocloud.com/blog/?p=22
|
|
Good, but missing essential feature, Oct 24, 2008 5:56 AM
Reviewer: kyrre15
A good tool, but like other reviewers have pointed out, the ability to give a label/nickname to instances on launch would be very, very convenient.
|
|
Awesome tool, Nov 5, 2008 3:35 PM
Reviewer: Sean Campion
This tool has made my life significantly easier. Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
