Mastering the 'aws cur' Command (with examples)

Managing and understanding AWS costs can often be challenging, especially when needing detailed reports on usage and expenses. The aws cur command is a tool offered by AWS CLI that allows users to manage their Cost and Usage Reports (CUR). This command provides functionality to create, query, and delete AWS usage report definitions, thereby enabling better financial insights and efficient budget management.

Creating an AWS Cost and Usage Report Definition

Code:

aws cur put-report-definition --report-definition file://path/to/report_definition.json

Motivation:

Creating a cost and usage report definition is essential for businesses that need a clear view of their AWS expenditure. By establishing a custom report definition, organizations can ensure that the data captured meets their specific requirements, such as including specific billing dimensions or data granularity. This customized data collection enables more accurate financial analysis and helps in aligning costs with business processes.

Explanation:

• aws cur: This refers to the AWS Cost and Usage Reports command line interface, which allows you to manage your billing reports.
• put-report-definition: This sub-command is used to configure and create a new report definition in AWS.
• --report-definition: This flag indicates that you will be specifying the details of the report definition.
• file://path/to/report_definition.json: This specifies the path to the JSON file that contains the configuration details for the report definition. The JSON file typically includes attributes such as the report name, time unit, format, compression, and additional optional settings.

Example Output:

Once successfully executed, the command returns a confirmation message without significant detail output. Any errors, such as incorrect JSON syntax or missing parameters, are displayed to help you troubleshoot and correct the report definition.

Listing Usage Report Definitions for the Logged-In Account

Code:

aws cur describe-report-definitions

Motivation:

Having the ability to list all existing report definitions is crucial for administrators and financial controllers to keep track of which reports are actively being generated and managed. This information can be used to verify compliance with financial monitoring policies, review resource allocations, and ensure all business units receive necessary updates regarding AWS usage.

Explanation:

• aws cur: This part of the command signifies that you are interacting with the Cost and Usage Reports feature.
• describe-report-definitions: This sub-command is used to fetch a list of all existing cost and usage report definitions that are configured for the account. It provides an overview of all available reports, enabling easy access for review or modification.

Example Output:

The command returns a list containing details of all report definitions, including attributes such as report name, frequency, additional configurations, and preferred delivery options. Here’s a small example of what the output can look like:

[
  {
    "ReportName": "MyCostReport",
    "TimeUnit": "DAILY",
    "AdditionalSchemaElements": ["RESOURCES"],
    "S3Bucket": "my-report-bucket",
    ...
  },
  ...
]

Deleting a Usage Report Definition

Code:

aws cur --region aws_region delete-report-definition --report-name report

Motivation:

Occasionally, there is a need to remove outdated or unnecessary report definitions to keep the AWS account tidy and optimized. Redundant report configurations can lead to confusion and require additional maintenance efforts. Deleting a report definition is an administrative task necessary for refining data management practices and ensuring that active reports are pertinent and efficient.

Explanation:

• aws cur: Represents using the AWS Cost and Usage Reports tool.
• --region aws_region: Specifies the AWS region where the report definition is managed. It’s crucial to provide the correct region to ensure the desired report is targeted for deletion.
• delete-report-definition: This sub-command is used to remove an existing report definition from your account.
• --report-name report: Indicates the name of the report definition that you wish to delete. The precision in specifying the correct report name ensures only the targeted report is removed without affecting others.

Example Output:

Upon successful execution, this command provides a confirmation message indicating that the report definition has been deleted. If the specified report name does not exist, an error message is returned, confirming either a typo or a previously deleted state.

Conclusion

Effectively using the aws cur command can significantly aid in managing AWS expenses and usage reports. From creating customized definitions tailored to the unique financial analysis needs of a business to efficiently listing and cleaning up report definitions, aws cur proves to be a powerful ally in cloud cost management. Understanding and applying these use cases can support financial decision-making and keep your AWS environment organized and efficient.