An Amazon Machine Image (AMI) is a supported and maintained image provided by AWS that provides the information required to launch an instance. It serves as a master template for the root volume of the instance, containing the operating system, an application server, and applications. A template for the root volume for the instance (e.g., OS, application server). Launch permissions that control which AWS accounts can use the AMI to launch instances. A block device mapping that specifies the volumes to attach to the instance when it's launched.

What is an AMI?

Difficulty: 3/10

EC2 instance launch, image management, deployment automation

Introduction to Amazon Machine Images

An Amazon Machine Image (AMI) is a supported and maintained image provided by AWS that provides the information required to launch an instance. It serves as a master template for the root volume of the instance, containing the operating system, an application server, and applications.

Components of an AMI

1
A template for the root volume for the instance (e.g., OS, application server).
2
Launch permissions that control which AWS accounts can use the AMI to launch instances.
3
A block device mapping that specifies the volumes to attach to the instance when it's launched.

Scenario Questions

0-2 years experience

1You need to spin up a new EC2 instance for a web service. How would you use an AMI in that process?
2If you launch an instance from a custom AMI you created yesterday, what happens to the instance if you later update the source code on the original machine?

2-5 years experience

1Our deployment pipeline builds a new AMI for each release. Yesterday the new AMI failed to start due to missing drivers. How would you troubleshoot the issue?

Follow-up Questions

Can you walk me through the steps you'd take in the AWS console or CLI?
What are the security implications of sharing AMIs across accounts?
How would you handle AMI cleanup to avoid unnecessary storage costs?