What is AMI (Amazon Machine Image)

What is AMI (Amazon Machine Image)

Simplified Definition:
A pre-configured package required to launch and EC2 instance, includes an operating system, software packages and other required settings.

AWS Definition:
An Amazon Machine Image (AMI) provides the information required to launch an instance, which is a virtual server in the cloud. You specify an AMI when you launch an instance, and you can launch as many instances from the AMI as you need. You can also launch instances from as many different AMI's as you need.

Conceptuall understanding AMI's:

AMI components:

1.root volume template
-operating system
-application software
2.launch permissions
3.block device mapping
-EBS (hard drive mapping)

My Linux EC2 instance:

1.root volume template
-amazon linux
-apache web server
2.launch permissions
3.block device mapping
-EBS mapping to volume

Note:
When you create and AMI, you are essentially creating a template that you can use to launch another EC2 instance that has the exact same components as the original instance.

When you launch an EC2 instance, the first thing you do is select an AMI

AMI comes in three main categories:

1. Community AMI's
-free to use
-generally with these AMIs you are just selecting the OS you want

2.AWS marketplace AMIs:
-pay to use
-generally comes packaged with additional, licensed software

3. My AMIs
-AMIs that you create yourself