Image Overview
What is image?
An image is a Baidu Cloud Compute Template that consists of software and necessary configurations, including at least an OS and potentially application software (e.g., a database) and private software. BCC images provide the information needed to create and launch BCC and EBC instances. An image must be selected for instance creation, which can also be performed in batches.
| Image type | Description | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Public image | Images officially provided by Baidu AI Cloud are genuine, licensed, secure, and highly stable. Public images include Windows Server system images and popular Linux system images. | Windows Server images might incur resource charges. The exact fees are displayed during instance creation. The Windows Server public images you purchase are officially licensed by Microsoft. Other public images are free of charge. |
| Custom image | Images you create with instances or snapshots, or custom images you import locally. Images intended for import must meet the requirements in terms of OS version, image format, etc. Please refer to Image Import Restrictions. The custom image can only be used, shared, replicated and deleted by the creator.
If the system disk of an instance is CDS, the created custom image cannot be used to create instances with local system disks. | All are provided for free. |
| Shared image | Images shared with you by other Baidu AI Cloud accounts. For more details, please refer to Share Custom Image. | If the source of your shared image originates from the image marketplace, the image charging type specified by the third-party service providers in the cloud market will apply. |
| Service integration image | An image based on a basic OS that incorporates standard services and application software environments. It's provided by Baidu or third-party service providers and published after approval by Baidu AI Cloud. These service-integrated images enable you to quickly establish cloud servers that include control panels, PHP, and other commonly used runtime environments. | The image charging type specified by the third-party service providers in the cloud market will apply. |
| Market image | An image environment prepared by third-party service providers, reviewed, and published in the cloud market by Baidu AI Cloud. It offers a rich service operating environment and application software, helping you address various solution scenarios efficiently. | The image charging type specified by the third-party service providers in the cloud market will apply. Postpay images are currently not supported. |
Custom image lifecycle
Create a custom image
After creating an instance using an existing image, you can customize the instance (e.g., install software, deploy projects, etc.) and create a custom image for the updated instance. Instances created with this custom image will include the customized settings configured in the image.
You may create it with the following method:
- Create custom image from an existing system disk snapshot. For detailed steps, please refer to [Create Custom Image](BCC/Operation guide/Image/Create a custom image.md).
- Import custom image locally. For detailed steps, please refer to [ Import Custom Image](BCC/Operation guide/Image/Import Custom Image/Import Overview.md).
Share and replicate a custom image
Images are regional resources. For instance, a custom image created in the Beijing region can only be used to create instances within the same region.
- After you share the image with other Baidu AI Cloud accounts, they can only use the image in Beijing region. If you want to share the image in another region, you can copy the image to the target region, and then share it with the target Baidu AI Cloud account. For more details, please refer to [Share Custom Image](BCC/Operation guide/Image/Share a custom image.md).
- If you want to use the image in another region, you can copy it to the target region. The copied image exists independently with a unique image ID. For more details, please refer to Cross-Region Image Replication.
Change image
Reinstall the OS if you want to change the operating system of an existing instance.
Delete a custom image
Delete the custom image that you no longer need. After deletion, you can no longer use the image to create instance. Please refer to [Delete Custom Image](BCC/Operation guide/Image/Delete a custom image.md).