This topic describes the types of images, their use cases, and related information.
Background information
Use cases
Create cloud computers quickly
An image contains the operating system and essential data for a cloud computer, which enables you to create cloud computers quickly.
You can create a custom image from a configured cloud computer or a snapshot. Then, you can use this custom image to create multiple cloud computers with identical configurations.
Replace an operating system
If a cloud computer's operating system no longer meets your business needs, you can change its image to replace the OS or reset the system data.
Image types
Images are categorized by their source:
System image: An image provided by Elastic Desktop Service (EDS) Enterprise that has passed Alibaba Cloud's security and stability tests.
Custom image: Images that you create from a cloud computer or snapshot, or private images that you import through Server Migration Center (SMC) or the Elastic Desktop Service (EDS) Enterprise console.
Shared image: An image shared with you by another Alibaba Cloud account.
Community image: A custom image created and publicly shared by other Alibaba Cloud accounts, available for use by all other Alibaba Cloud accounts.
Billing
You are not charged for publishing, sharing, or using images.
System images
Elastic Desktop Service (EDS) Enterprise provides the following system images:
Type | Language | |||||
Operating system | GPU | Non-GPU | Simplified Chinese | Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong, China) | English | Japanese |
Windows Server 2019 | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported |
Windows Server 2022 | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported |
Linux Ubuntu 20.04 | Supported | Supported | Not supported | Not supported | Supported | Not supported |
Linux Ubuntu 22.04 | Supported | Supported | Not supported | Not supported | Supported | Not supported |
Custom images
You can create a custom image in the following ways:
Create a custom image from a cloud computer or snapshot. For more information, see Create an image.
Import an image by using the SMC console. For more information, see Create a desktop migration job.
Import an image by using the Elastic Desktop Service (EDS) Enterprise console. For more information, see Import an image.
After you create a custom image, you can perform the following operations:
Create a custom cloud computer template
You can use a custom image to create a cloud computer template, and then use the template to create multiple cloud computers that have the same configurations. For more information, see Create and manage custom templates.
Copy an image
You can copy a custom image to another region. For more information, see Copy an image across regions.
Delete an image
If you no longer need an image, you can delete it. For more information, see Delete a custom image.
Share an image
You can share a custom image with other Alibaba Cloud accounts. For more information, see Share or unshare an image.
Publish to the community
You can publish a custom image to the community to make it available to all other Alibaba Cloud accounts.
Community images
Publish and unpublish a community image
You can publish a custom image to the community. If you no longer want to provide the image, you can unpublish it at any time.
This feature is in private preview.
Use a community image
When you create a custom cloud computer template or create cloud computers, you can use any community image available in your selected region. For more information, see Create cloud computers and Create an image.
Because community images are published by other Alibaba Cloud accounts, Alibaba Cloud does not guarantee their security or compliance. Use them with caution.
Supported regions
To view the regions that a community image supports, perform the following steps:
Log on to the Elastic Desktop Service Enterprise console.
In the left-side navigation pane, choose Operation & Maintenance > Image.
On the Community Image tab, find the target image and view the list of supported regions in the Region column.