Retrieve recommended Amazon Linux AMI IDs - Amazon EKS
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Retrieve recommended Amazon Linux AMI IDs

When deploying nodes, you can specify an ID for a pre-built Amazon EKS optimized Amazon Machine Image (AMI). To retrieve an AMI ID that fits your desired configuration, query the Amazon Systems Manager Parameter Store API. Using this API eliminates the need to manually look up Amazon EKS optimized AMI IDs. For more information, see GetParameter. The IAM principal that you use must have the ssm:GetParameter IAM permission to retrieve the Amazon EKS optimized AMI metadata.

You can retrieve the image ID of the latest recommended Amazon EKS optimized Amazon Linux AMI with the following command, which uses the sub-parameter image_id. Make the following modifications to the command as needed and then run the modified command:

  • Replace <kubernetes-version> with an Amazon EKS supported version.

  • Replace ami-type with one of the following options. For information about the types of Amazon EC2 instances, see Amazon EC2 instance types.

    • Use amazon-linux-2023/x86_64/standard for Amazon Linux 2023 (AL2023) x86 based instances.

    • Use amazon-linux-2023/arm64/standard for AL2023 ARM instances, such as Amazon Graviton based instances.

    • Use amazon-linux-2023/x86_64/nvidia for the latest approved AL2023 NVIDIA x86 based instances.

    • Use amazon-linux-2023/arm64/nvidia for the latest approved AL2023 NVIDIA arm64 based instances.

    • Use amazon-linux-2023/x86_64/neuron for the latest AL2023 Amazon Neuron instances.

    • Use amazon-linux-2 for Amazon Linux 2 (AL2) x86 based instances.

    • Use amazon-linux-2-arm64 for AL2 ARM instances, such as Amazon Graviton based instances.

    • Use amazon-linux-2-gpu for AL2 hardware accelerated x86 based instances for NVIDIA GPU, Inferentia, and Trainium based workloads.

  • Replace <region-code> with an Amazon EKS supported Amazon Region for which you want the AMI ID.

aws ssm get-parameter --name /aws/service/eks/optimized-ami/<kubernetes-version>/<ami-type>/recommended/image_id \
    --region <region-code> --query "Parameter.Value" --output text

Here’s an example command after placeholder replacements have been made.

aws ssm get-parameter --name /aws/service/eks/optimized-ami/1.31/amazon-linux-2023/x86_64/standard/recommended/image_id \
    --region us-west-2 --query "Parameter.Value" --output text

An example output is as follows.

ami-1234567890abcdef0