Error when writing security groups for clusters using spot instances

[nathanieldchu]

I have run into errors when trying to use spot instances for a starcluster. The errors appear to be specific to when spot instances are requested.

The configuration in question is

### THIS BLOCK IS UNSUCCESSFUL AND PROMPTS THE ERROR BELOW
# add test cluster
[cluster test]
# Declares that this cluster uses smallcluster as defaults
EXTENDS=smallcluster
# number of ec2 instances to launch
CLUSTER_SIZE = 10
# choose instance type
NODE_INSTANCE_TYPE = m1.large
# Set SPOT instance bid
SPOT_BID = 0.02 #IF THIS LINE IS COMMENTED OUT, NO ERRORS ARE ENCOUNTERED
#add volumes of persistant storage
VOLUMES = test

The error output is the following:

StarCluster - (http://star.mit.edu/cluster) (v. 0.95.6)
Software Tools for Academics and Researchers (STAR)
Please submit bug reports to starcluster@mit.edu

>>> Validating cluster template settings...
>>> Cluster template settings are valid
>>> Starting cluster...
>>> Launching a 10-node cluster...
>>> Launching master node (ami: ami-765b3e1f, type: m1.large)...
>>> Creating security group @sc-test...
!!! ERROR - UnauthorizedOperation: You are not authorized to perform this operation.
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/ubuntu/anaconda2/lib/python2.7/site-packages/starcluster/cli.py", line 274, in main
    sc.execute(args)
  File "/home/ubuntu/anaconda2/lib/python2.7/site-packages/starcluster/commands/start.py", line 244, in execute
    validate_running=validate_running)
  File "/home/ubuntu/anaconda2/lib/python2.7/site-packages/starcluster/cluster.py", line 1628, in start
    return self._start(create=create, create_only=create_only)
  File "", line 2, in _start
  File "/home/ubuntu/anaconda2/lib/python2.7/site-packages/starcluster/utils.py", line 112, in wrap_f
    res = func(*arg, **kargs)
  File "/home/ubuntu/anaconda2/lib/python2.7/site-packages/starcluster/cluster.py", line 1643, in _start
    self.create_cluster()
  File "/home/ubuntu/anaconda2/lib/python2.7/site-packages/starcluster/cluster.py", line 1161, in create_cluster
    self._create_spot_cluster()
  File "/home/ubuntu/anaconda2/lib/python2.7/site-packages/starcluster/cluster.py", line 1217, in _create_spot_cluster
    force_flat=force_flat)
  File "/home/ubuntu/anaconda2/lib/python2.7/site-packages/starcluster/cluster.py", line 894, in create_node
    spot_bid=spot_bid, force_flat=force_flat)[0]
  File "/home/ubuntu/anaconda2/lib/python2.7/site-packages/starcluster/cluster.py", line 926, in create_nodes
    cluster_sg = self.cluster_group.name
  File "/home/ubuntu/anaconda2/lib/python2.7/site-packages/starcluster/cluster.py", line 655, in cluster_group
    vpc_id=vpc_id)
  File "/home/ubuntu/anaconda2/lib/python2.7/site-packages/starcluster/awsutils.py", line 296, in create_group
    sg = self.conn.create_security_group(name, description, vpc_id=vpc_id)
  File "/home/ubuntu/anaconda2/lib/python2.7/site-packages/boto/ec2/connection.py", line 3003, in create_security_group
    SecurityGroup, verb='POST')
  File "/home/ubuntu/anaconda2/lib/python2.7/site-packages/boto/connection.py", line 1208, in get_object
    raise self.ResponseError(response.status, response.reason, body)
EC2ResponseError: EC2ResponseError: 403 Forbidden

UnauthorizedOperationYou are not authorized to perform this operation.5bc119e0-84cf-4c4e-8372-0aa445c2c728

Any idea why spot instances would be throwing this error? Thanks for your effort! I might try some difference parameters to see if any other variations will work.

[nathanieldchu]

Ah, interesting. These setting appear to work as long as you don't use the first generation (m1) of instances. Unsure of why. My problem is solved; I'm happy to use the more recent instances. This issue is likely not worth much time.