What are the different types of AMIs?

Difficulty: 5/10

EBS‑backed AMI, Instance‑store AMI, Marketplace AMI

Categories of AMIs

AMIs are categorized based on their source, platform, and storage architecture. Understanding these types helps in choosing the right starting point for your EC2 instances.

Common AMI Types

1
Quick Start AMIs: Pre-configured Linux and Windows images provided by AWS.
2
My AMIs: Custom images created by the user from their own instances.
3
AWS Marketplace AMIs: Managed images provided by third-party vendors (e.g., SAP, Bitnami).
4
Community AMIs: Shared images created by other AWS users (use with caution).
5
Storage Types: EBS-backed (persistent root volume) or Instance Store-backed (ephemeral root volume).

Scenario Questions

0-2 years experience

1You need to launch a t3.micro for a web app using an Amazon Linux 2 AMI. How would you choose between an EBS‑backed AMI and an instance‑store AMI, and what steps would you take in the console?
2If you launch an EC2 instance from a Marketplace AMI and later want to add your own software, what considerations do you have about the AMI type and licensing?

2-5 years experience

Follow-up Questions

What steps would you take to verify the AMI type before launching?
How does the AMI choice affect your backup and recovery strategy?
Can you give an example where you’d prefer a Marketplace AMI over a custom one?