# Prerequisites
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To use Amazon CloudWatch Logs you need an AWS account. Your AWS account allows you to use services (for example, Amazon EC2) to generate logs that you can view in the CloudWatch console, a web-based interface. In addition, you can install and configure the AWS Command Line Interface (AWS CLI).

## Sign up for an AWS account
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To get started with AWS, you need an AWS account. For information about creating an AWS account, see [Getting started with an AWS account](https://docs.aws.amazon.com//accounts/latest/reference/getting-started.html) in the *AWS Account Management Reference Guide*.

## Set up the Command Line Interface
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You can use the AWS CLI to perform CloudWatch Logs operations.

For information about how to install and configure the AWS CLI, see [Getting Set Up with the AWS Command Line Interface](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/userguide/cli-chap-getting-set-up.html) in the *AWS Command Line Interface User Guide*.