AWS AMI (Amazon Machine Image) - Pre-configured template for EC2 instance

Overview

Is a pre-configured virtual machine template that contains the necessary information to launch an EC2 instance (the AMI must be compatible with the instance type that we chose for our instance).

We can add or own software, configuration, OS, libraries, or any customizations.

It has faster boot, and configuration time because all of the customizations are pre-packaged.

AMIs are built for a specific region, it can be copied across regions.

We can launch EC2 instances by using AMI from:

• Public AMI: AWS provided AMI

• Our own AMI: we customize it and maintain it
• AWS Marketplace AMI: someone or an organization made it (they can also sell the AMI)

Create the customized AMI

• Start the EC2 instance and then customize it. I will SSH into the instance and then install Git by running sudo yum install -y git.

• Stop the instance (to make sure that the data is not changed while creating AMI), this step is recommended.
• Build an AMI - this process will create an EBS snapshot.

• Launch instances from the AMI

• Check if the AMI works:?