This topic describes how to copy a custom image in your Alibaba Cloud account to other regions. This action enables you to create identical ECS instances across regions and back up data of instances.

Background information

The following table lists various scenarios in which custom images are copied.
Business requirement Procedure Reference
Copy images across regions in the same account
  1. Create a custom image from an instance
  2. Copy images to a different region.
  1. CreateImage
  2. CopyImage
Copy images across regions in different accounts
  1. Create a custom image from an instance
  2. Copy images to a different region.
  3. Share or unshare custom images
  1. CreateImage
  2. CopyImage
  3. ModifyImageSharePermission
Share images in the same region across accounts You can share images without the need to copy images. For more information, see Share or unshare custom images ModifyImageSharePermission
Change the encryption status of a custom image, encrypt a system disk, or encrypt operation system data Select Encrypt when you copy a custom image. The encryption option in public preview. CopyImage
Before you copy a custom image, take note of the following items:
  • The following fees may be incurred:
    • The copied snapshot consumes snapshot capacity. For more information, see Billing overview.
      Note When an image is copied, a corresponding snapshot is generated in the destination region. The custom image is generated in the destination region based on this snapshot. The generated snapshots are retained permanently, regardless of the retention period of the snapshots contained in the source image.
    • Fees for traffic between the two regions. Currently, no fees are charged for this traffic. For the latest billing details, see the announcements on official Alibaba Cloud website.
  • The time it takes to copy a custom image depends on the image size, network transmission speed, and the number of concurrent tasks in the queue.
    Note To copy a large image such as an image larger than 2 TiB in size across regions, you can first copy the associated snapshots to the destination region and then create a custom image from these snapshots in the destination region. For more information, see Copy a snapshot and Create a custom image from a snapshot.
  • The role authorization information, service authorization information, and instance user data of the source image are not copied to the destination image.

Procedure

  1. Log on to the ECS console.
  2. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Instances & Images > Images.
  3. In the top navigation bar, select a region.
  4. On the Images page, click the Custom Images tab.
  5. Select the image that you want to copy and click Copy Image in the Actions column.
    Note If the size of your custom image is larger than 500 GiB, you are directed to submit a ticket to complete the operation when you click Copy Image.
  6. In the Copy Image dialog box, perform the following operations:
    1. Verify the custom image ID.
    2. In the Destination Region drop-down list, select a region. The selected region must be different from the current region.
    3. Enter the Custom Image Name to be displayed in the destination region.
    4. Optional:Enter the Custom Image Description to be displayed in the destination region.
    5. Optional:Select Encrypt and then select Default Service CMK from the drop-down list.

      Default Service CMK: The default key generated by Key Management Service (KMS).

      Note The encryption feature is in public preview in some regions.
    6. Click OK.
  7. Query the results and manage the tasks.
    1. In the upper-left corner of the top navigation bar, switch to the destination region and view the copy progress of the custom image.
      When the progress reaches 100%, the image enters the Available state, indicating that the task is complete. An image is created in the destination region and has a unique image ID.
    2. Optional:If the Progress has not reached 100% and the Status is Creating, you can cancel the copy task by clicking Cancel Copy.
      Creating

What to do next

You can use the copied image to create an instance or change the system disk: