You may reproduce this issue if you use bad credentials when launching the new instance. You may use an image that has no jboss user or by using jboss-user but using a bogus pw. 1. launch any ec2 image (an image that does not use jboss as user) 2. create new key, let tools store private part in to your local disk 3. enable RSE on 2nd page of wizard 4. Finish Currently: You get an error that tells you that deltacloud tools could not connect on behalf of RSE. The details report a NPE. ((see screenshot) Expected: You get an error, the details say that the credentials are invalid.