Overview
SAN boot enables an EC2 instance to boot directly from a block volume stored on an external storage array. This method utilizes iPXE, an open-source network bootloader, which allows machines to boot from a network location. When iPXE is combined with iSCSI, it enables operating system startup from a remote iSCSI target - in this case, the third-party storage array. The EC2 instance treats the remote block volume as a local disk, with all read/write operations from the operating system being written directly to the external storage array.
Highlights
- Boot EC2 instances directly from external storage arrays using iPXE and iSCSI, enabling flexible storage architecture and simplified disaster recovery
- Integrate third-party storage solutions with AWS EC2, treating remote block volumes as local disks for native performance
- Streamline storage management by centralizing OS and data storage on external arrays while maintaining full EC2 compatibility
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Delivery details
64-bit (x86) Amazon Machine Image (AMI)
Amazon Machine Image (AMI)
An AMI is a virtual image that provides the information required to launch an instance. Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) instances are virtual servers on which you can run your applications and workloads, offering varying combinations of CPU, memory, storage, and networking resources. You can launch as many instances from as many different AMIs as you need.
Version release notes
1.0
Additional details
Usage instructions
Please refer to https://ipxe.org/start . Official AWS documentation will be included here shortly.
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For support and technical inquiries, please contact our AWS Outposts team at aws-outposts-oya@amazon.com . Our specialists are dedicated to providing comprehensive assistance for your implementation needs.
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