CI/CD for creating AMI(s)

Question

Hi AWS, I want to know if it is possible to create a new AMI with only the newest updates rather than stopping the EC2 instance and creating it a new altogether by downloading the existing binaries or applications along with the newest changes. Also is it possible to version tag them so that instead of overwriting them I would maintain an inventory to compare the changes between the latest and the n-1 AMI.

Is AWS Elastic Beanstalk providing that flexibility to accomplish the same? In case yes, how can we do that. Please guide.

Answer

Hi,

the AWS Image Builder is the tool that you want to use for your purpose: https://aws.amazon.com/image-builder/

```
EC2 Image Builder simplifies the building, testing, and deployment of Virtual Machine 
and container images for use on AWS or on-premises.

Keeping Virtual Machine and container images up-to-date can be time consuming, 
resource intensive, and error-prone. Currently, customers either manually update and
 snapshot VMs or have teams that build automation scripts to maintain images.

Image Builder significantly reduces the effort of keeping images up-to-date and secure
 by providing a simple graphical interface, built-in automation, and AWS-provided security 
settings. With Image Builder, there are no manual steps for updating an image nor do you 
have to build your own automation pipeline.
```

To automate, you have CloudFormation samples at https://github.com/aws-samples/amazon-ec2-image-builder-samples/tree/master/CloudFormation

This blog post explains the integration with BeansTalk (Windows use case but mostly applicable to Linux): https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/devops/ec2-image-builder-for-windows-on-aws-elastic-beanstalk/

Best,

Didier

Answer

Hi

You can use  amazon builder service to buid the new ami for all Distruibutions with new updates.

CI/CD for creating AMI(s)

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