Amazon Machine Image (AMI)

• An AMI provides the information required to launch an instance.

• You must specify an AMI when you launch an instance.

• You can launch multiple instances from a single AMI when you need multiple instances with the same configuration (AMI).

• You are only charged for the storage of the bits that make up your AMI, there are no charges for creating an AMI.

• AMIs are tied to the Region where its files are located with Amazon S3.

  • For using AMI in different regions, the AMI can be copied to other regions.

Buying, sharing, and selling AMIs

• After you create an AMI, you can keep it private so that only you can use it, or you can share it with a specified list of AWS accounts or sell the AMI.

• You can also purchase AMIs from a third party, including AMIs that come with service contracts from organizations such as Red Hat.

Copying an AMI

• You can copy an AMI within or across AWS Regions.

• Copying a source AMI results in an identical but distinct target AMI with its own unique identifier.

• There are no charges for copying an AMI.

  • However, standard storage and data transfer rates apply.

• You can copy an unencrypted snapshot to make an encrypted snapshot.

  • However, you cannot copy an encrypted snapshot to make an unencrypted one.

Cross-Region copying

• It provides the following benefits:

  • Consistent global deployment

    • Copying an AMI from one Region to another enables you to launch consistent instances in different Regions based on the same AMI.

  • Scalability

    • You can more easily design and build global applications that meet the needs of your users, regardless of their location.

  • Performance

    • You can increase performance by distributing your application, as well as locating critical components of your application in closer proximity to your users.

  • High availability

    • You can design and deploy applications across AWS Regions, to increase availability.

Cross-account copying

• You can share an AMI with another AWS account.

• Sharing an AMI does not affect the ownership of the AMI.

• The owning account is charged for the storage in the Region.

• If you copy an AMI that has been shared with your account, you are the owner of the target AMI in your account.

• To copy an AMI that was shared with you from another account, the owner of the source AMI must grant you read permissions for the storage that backs the AMI.

  • If the shared AMI has encrypted snapshots, the owner must share the key or keys with you as well.

• Can't copy an AMI with an associated billingProduct, instead you have to launch the AMI first and then create an AMI from that.