Features

Private Image Lifecycle

After you create a private image, you can use it to create cloud servers or EVS disks. You can also share the image with other tenants or replicate it to other regions. Figure 1 shows the lifecycle of a private image.

Figure 1 Private image lifecycle

Features

**Table 1** Creating a private image
Feature	Description	Helpful Link
Creating a system disk image from an ECS or BMS	After creating a cloud server, you can set it up, installing whatever software or application environment you need, and then use the preconfigured server to create a system disk image. You can create new cloud servers with the custom configurations from the image, which frees you from a lot of repetitive work.	Creating a System Disk Image from a Windows ECS Creating a System Disk Image from a Linux ECS Creating a Private Image from a BMS
Creating a system disk image from an external image file	You can import a system disk from your local PC or other cloud platforms, and use the imported image to create new cloud servers or reinstall or change the OSs of existing cloud servers.	Creating a Windows System Disk Image from an External Image File Creating a Linux System Disk Image from an External Image File Creating a BMS Private Image from an External Image File Fast Import of an Image File
Creating a system disk image from an ISO file	In contrast with other image formats, an ISO file can be used only after it is decompressed using a tool, such as UltraISO or VirtualBox. For details about the image creation process, see the Helpful Link column in the table.	Creating a Windows System Disk Image from an ISO File Creating a Linux System Disk Image from an ISO File Creating a Windows Image Using VirtualBox and an ISO File Creating a Linux Image Using VirtualBox and an ISO File
Creating a system disk image using Packer	Packer is an open-source tool used to create custom images. It simplifies private image creation by using manageable code. In this way, you can customize images easily.	Creating a Private Image Using Packer
Creating a data disk image from an external image file	You can import the data disk image of a local server or a server on another cloud platform to Huawei Cloud and then the image can be used to create EVS disks.	Creating a Data Disk Image from an External Image File
Creating a full-ECS image from an ECS, a CSBS backup, or a CBR backup	You can use an ECS with data disks to create a full-ECS image, complete with an OS, various applications, and your service data. The full-ECS image then can be used to quickly provision identical ECSs for data migration. A full-ECS image can be created from an ECS, a CSBS backup, or a CBR backup.	Creating a Full-ECS Image from an ECS Creating a Full-ECS Image from a CSBS Backup Creating a Full-ECS Image from a CBR Backup
Creating an ECS from a private image	After a system disk image or full-ECS image is created, you can click Apply for Server in the row that contains the image to create an ECS.	Creating an ECS from an Image

**Table 2** Managing private images
Feature	Description	Helpful Link
Modifying an image	You can modify the following attributes of an image: name, description, minimum memory, maximum memory, and advanced functions such as NIC multi-queue and SR-IOV driver.	Modifying an Image
Sharing images	You can share an image with other Huawei Cloud accounts. These accounts can use your shared private image to quickly create ECSs or EVS disks.	Sharing Images Image Sharing FAQ
Exporting images	You can export private images to your OBS bucket and download them to your local PC for backup.	Exporting an Image
Encrypting images	You can create encrypted images to improve data security. KMS envelope encryption is used. Encrypted images can be created from external image files or encrypted ECSs.	Encryption Method Creating Encrypted Images
Replicating images within a region	By replicating images within a region, you can convert encrypted and unencrypted images into each other or enable some advanced features, for example, fast instance provisioning.	Replicating Images Within a Region
Replicating images across regions	You can replicate private images created in one region to another region. Cross-region replication can be used together with image sharing for cross-region, cross-account image replication.	Replicating Images Across Regions
Tagging an image	You can tag your private images for easy management and search.	Tagging an Image
Exporting image list	You can export the public or private image list in a given region as a CSV file for local maintenance and query.	Exporting Image List
Deleting images	You can delete images that will be no longer used. Deleting an image does not affect the ECSs created from that image.	Deleting Images