Description
The Export EC2 Instances action will export EC2 instances to an Amazon S3 bucket as a virtual machine image. In order to ensure consistency, the instances can be stopped and restarted when the instances are exported.
For example, an export can be done every day at 1am.
Note: To export an EC2 instance, the instance must have previously been imported from a virtual machine image. Please see Importing and Exporting Instances for more information.
Important: Before exporting your EC2 instances, please ensure you have setup the required ACL on your S3 bucket as per the prerequisites for VM export.
Settings
Please see Common Action Settings for a description of settings common to all action types.
Instance Identification Method
Indicate the method in which the instances are to be identified. Valid options are:
- Instance ID - Identify the instances by their unique instance ID value.
- Instance Name - Identify the instances by their "Name" tag.
- EC2 Tag - Identify the instances by comparing EC2 tag values.
- All Instances - Export all instances.
Instance IDs
Indicate the list of instance IDs of your EC2 instances. Instance IDs usually looks like "i-84a3dc7b". All instances must reside in the region specified. Required only if Instance Identification Method is set to "Instance ID".
Multiple instances can be added by clicking "Add many instances". In the dialog that appears, enter a space-, comma-, or line-seperated list of instance IDs.
Comparison
Indicates how the Instance Name field is compared to the instance "Name" tags. Required only if Instance Identification Method is set to "Instance Name".
Instance Name
Indicate the value of the "Name" tag of the EC2 instances. This instances must reside in the region specified. Required only if Instance Identification Method is set to "Instance Name".
EC2 Tag Name
Required if Instance Identification Method is "EC2 Tag". Indicates the name of the EC2 tag used to compare.
EC2 Tag Value
Required if Instance Identification Method is "EC2 Tag". Indicates the value of the EC2 tag used to compare.
Consistency Method
Indicate the method in which to ensure volume consistency. Currently, two options exist:
- None - do nothing
- Stop Instance - Stop and restart the instances
Bucket Name
Name of the Amazon S3 bucket into which the exported virtual machine will be saved. This bucket must reside in the same region as the original EC2 instance.
Prefix
Optional. Specify a prefix to append to the saved virtual machine's object key with. Macros can be used to specify run-time data.
Target Type
Indicates the virtual machine environment type that the instance will be saved as. Possible options include:
- Citrix (VHD)
- Microsoft (VHD)
- VMware (OVA)
- VMware (VMDK)
Amazon Commands Used
The following Amazon AWS commands are used. The IAM credentials should have permission to execute all of them.
- ec2:CreateInstanceExportTask
- ec2:DescribeExportTasks
- ec2:DescribeInstances