UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException in AWS Simple Systems Management (SSM)

Introduction

When working with AWS Simple Systems Management (SSM), you may encounter the “UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException” exception. This article provides an in-depth understanding of this exception, how it can be resolved, and best practices to avoid it.

What is UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException?

The “UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException” is an exception class in the com.amazonaws.services.simplesystemsmanagement.model package of AWS Simple Systems Management (SSM). It is thrown when you attempt to use an unsupported inventory item context with SSM.

Inventory Item Context

Inventory item context is a way to filter inventory items based on specific characteristics or criteria. It allows you to retrieve specific information from the inventory managed by SSM. However, certain combinations of context are not supported, which triggers the “UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException.”

Common Scenarios

You may encounter the “UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException” in the following scenarios:

Scenario 1: Invalid Context Key

import com.amazonaws.services.simplesystemsmanagement.model.*;

public class SSMExample {
    public void getInventoryItems() {
        DescribeInstanceInformationRequest request = new DescribeInstanceInformationRequest()
                .withInstanceInformationFilterList(
                        new InstanceInformationStringFilter()
                                .withKey("invalidKey")
                                .withValues("value")
                                .withType(InstanceInformationStringFilterType.Equal));
        
        DescribeInstanceInformationResult result = ssmClient.describeInstanceInformation(request);
    }
}

In this scenario, the exception occurs because the key in the inventory item context is invalid. The DescribeInstanceInformationRequest constructor accepts a List of InstanceInformationFilter objects, which filter the inventory items. If the key specified in InstanceInformationStringFilter is not valid, it throws an UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException.

Scenario 2: Unsupported Combination of Context Filters

import com.amazonaws.services.simplesystemsmanagement.model.*;

public class SSMExample {
    public void getInventoryItems() {
        DescribeInstanceInformationRequest request = new DescribeInstanceInformationRequest()
                .withInstanceInformationFilterList(
                        new InstanceInformationStringFilter()
                                .withKey("aws:resourceType")
                                .withValues("AWS::EC2::Instance")
                                .withType(InstanceInformationStringFilterType.Equal),
                        new InstanceInformationStringFilter()
                                .withKey("aws:version")
                                .withValues("1.0")
                                .withType(InstanceInformationStringFilterType.Equal));
        
        DescribeInstanceInformationResult result = ssmClient.describeInstanceInformation(request);
    }
}

In this scenario, when you use an unsupported combination of context filters, it throws an UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException. In the given code snippet, the combination of filters “aws:resourceType” and “aws:version” is not supported.

Troubleshooting UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException

To troubleshoot the UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException, follow these steps:

Step 1: Check the Context Key

Ensure that the context key used is valid. AWS provides a list of supported keys in their official documentation [^1^]. Ensure that you are not using any key that is not specified in the documentation.

Step 2: Verify the Combination of Context Filters

If you are using multiple context filters, verify that the combination is supported. Again, refer to the official documentation [^1^] to ensure that your combination of context filters is valid.

Step 3: Handle the Exception

To handle the UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException, catch it in a try-catch block and take appropriate action. You can log an error message, notify the user, or gracefully handle the exception based on your application’s requirements.

import com.amazonaws.services.simplesystemsmanagement.model.*;

public class SSMExample {
    public void getInventoryItems() {
        try {
            DescribeInstanceInformationRequest request = new DescribeInstanceInformationRequest()
                    .withInstanceInformationFilterList(
                            new InstanceInformationStringFilter()
                                    .withKey("invalidKey")
                                    .withValues("value")
                                    .withType(InstanceInformationStringFilterType.Equal));
            
            DescribeInstanceInformationResult result = ssmClient.describeInstanceInformation(request);
        } catch (UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException ex) {
            // Handle the exception
            System.out.println("UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException occurred: " + ex.getMessage());
        }
    }
}

Best Practices to avoid UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException

To avoid encountering the UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException, consider the following best practices:

Best Practice 1: Use Valid Context Keys

Always refer to the official documentation [^1^] and use valid context keys. Avoid using any key that is not specified in the documentation.

Best Practice 2: Follow Supported Combination of Context Filters

Refer to the official AWS Simple Systems Management (SSM) documentation [^1^] to understand the supported combination of context filters. Stick to the documented combinations to avoid triggering the exception.

Best Practice 3: Test and Validate Context Filters

Before deploying your application to a production environment, thoroughly test and validate the context filters you are using with SSM. Make sure they provide the desired results and do not throw any exceptions.

Best Practice 4: Error Handling and Logging

Implement adequate error handling and logging mechanisms to detect and respond to the UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException as per your application’s requirements. This will help in troubleshooting and identifying issues faster.

Conclusion

The UnsupportedInventoryItemContextException is an exception that can occur when working with AWS Simple Systems Management (SSM) and using unsupported inventory item contexts. By following the best practices mentioned in this article and validating your context filters, you can avoid encountering this exception.

Remember to refer to official AWS documentation [^1^] for a complete list of supported inventory item contexts and their combinations.

Happy coding with AWS Simple Systems Management (SSM)!

References: [^1^]: AWS Simple Systems Management (SSM) Documentation - Inventory Item Context