It took a couple of days, but I finally found out how to configure linux in order to run Amazon EC2 Tools commands. I found some instructions here and there, but I'll provide instructions that are clearer (I hope) to the new Linux user, particularly, running Fedora (RPM-based Linux). Much of it is derived from the aforelinked instructions, so look at those for extra information. You should already know some basic linux commands - and remember that these instructions worked for me in Fedora.

