# Step 1: Create an Amazon EC2 key pair
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In this step, you will create the Amazon EC2 key pair you need to connect to an Amazon EMR leader node and run Hive commands.

1. Sign in to the AWS Management Console and open the Amazon EC2 console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/ec2/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/ec2/).

1. Choose a region (for example, `US West (Oregon)`). This should be the same region in which your DynamoDB table is located.

1. In the navigation pane, choose **Key Pairs**.

1. Choose **Create Key Pair**. 

1. In **Key pair name**, type a name for your key pair (for example, `mykeypair`), and then choose **Create**. 

1. Download the private key file. The file name will end with `.pem` (such as `mykeypair.pem`). Keep this private key file in a safe place. You will need it to access any Amazon EMR cluster that you launch with this key pair. 
**Important**  
If you lose the key pair, you cannot connect to the leader node of your Amazon EMR cluster.

   For more information about key pairs, see [Amazon EC2 Key Pairs](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/ec2-key-pairs.html) in the *Amazon EC2 User Guide*. 

**Next step**  
[Step 2: Launch an Amazon EMR cluster](EMRforDynamoDB.Tutorial.LaunchEMRCluster.md)