Download and save the AWS IoT Device Client - AWS IoT Core
Download and build Device ClientCreate the directories used by the tutorials(Optional) Save the microSD card image

Download and save the AWS IoT Device Client

The procedures in this section download the AWS IoT Device Client, compile it, and install it on your Raspberry Pi. After you test the installation, you can save the image of the Raspberry Pi's microSD card to use later when you want to try the tutorials again.

Download and build the AWS IoT Device Client

This procedure installs the AWS IoT Device Client on your Raspberry Pi.

Perform these commands in the terminal window on your local host computer that is connected to your Raspberry Pi.

To install the AWS IoT Device Client on your Raspberry Pi

  1. Enter these commands to download and build the AWS IoT Device Client on your Raspberry Pi.

    cd ~
git clone https://github.com/awslabs/aws-iot-device-client aws-iot-device-client
mkdir ~/aws-iot-device-client/build && cd ~/aws-iot-device-client/build
cmake ../

  2. Run this command to build the AWS IoT Device Client. This command can take up to 15 minutes to complete.

    cmake --build . --target aws-iot-device-client

    The warning messages displayed as the AWS IoT Device Client compiles can be ignored.

    These tutorials have been tested with the AWS IoT Device Client built on gcc, version (Raspbian 10.2.1-6+rpi1) 10.2.1 20210110 on the Oct 30th 2021 version of Raspberry Pi OS (bullseye) on gcc, version (Raspbian 8.3.0-6+rpi1) 8.3.0 on the May 7th 2021 version of the Raspberry Pi OS (buster).

  3. After the AWS IoT Device Client finishes building, test it by running this command.

    ./aws-iot-device-client --help

If you see the command line help for the AWS IoT Device Client, the AWS IoT Device Client has been built successfully and is ready for you to use.

Create the directories used by the tutorials

This procedure creates the directories on the Raspberry Pi that will be used to store the files used by the tutorials in this learning path.

To create the directories used by the tutorials in this learning path:

  1. Run these commands to create the required directories.

    mkdir ~/dc-configs
mkdir ~/policies
mkdir ~/messages
mkdir ~/certs/testconn
mkdir ~/certs/pubsub
mkdir ~/certs/jobs

  2. Run these commands to set the permissions on the new directories.

    chmod 745 ~
chmod 700 ~/certs/testconn
chmod 700 ~/certs/pubsub
chmod 700 ~/certs/jobs

After you create these directories and set their permission, continue to (Optional) Save the microSD card image.

(Optional) Save the microSD card image

At this point, your Raspberry Pi's microSD card has an updated OS, the basic application software, and the AWS IoT Device Client.

If you want to come back to try these exercises and tutorials again, you can skip the preceding procedures by writing the microSD card image that you save with this procedure to a new microSD card and continue the tutorials from Provision your Raspberry Pi in AWS IoT.

To save the microSD card image to a file:

In the terminal window on your local host computer that's connected to your Raspberry Pi:

  1. Confirm that your AWS account credentials have not been stored.

    1. Run the AWS configure app with this command:

      aws configure

    2. If your credentials have been stored (if they are displayed in the prompt), then enter the XYXYXYXYX string when prompted as shown here. Leave Default region name and Default output format blank.

      AWS Access Key ID [****************YXYX]: XYXYXYXYX
AWS Secret Access Key [****************YXYX]: XYXYXYXYX
Default region name: 
Default output format:

  2. Enter this command to shutdown the Raspberry Pi.

    sudo shutdown -h 0

  3. After the Raspberry Pi shuts down completely, remove its power connector.

  4. Remove the microSD card from your device.

  5. On your local host computer:

    1. Insert the microSD card.

    2. Using your SD card imaging tool, save the microSD card’s image to a file.

    3. After the microSD card’s image has been saved, eject the card from the local host computer.

You can continue with this microSD card in Provision your Raspberry Pi in AWS IoT.