Amazon Linux 2023 Cloud Images

☁️ Optimized Amazon Linux 2023 images for OpenStack and Proxmox environments with cloud-init support

📖 Explore the docs »

🐛 Report Bug · 💡 Request Feature

🌟 About The Project

This project provides optimized Amazon Linux 2023 images specifically designed for OpenStack and Proxmox cloud environments. Amazon Linux 2023 is AWS's next-generation enterprise-grade Linux distribution, featuring improved performance, enhanced security, and modern tooling.

Our build process downloads the official Amazon Linux 2023 KVM images directly from AWS's public repository and customizes them using libguestfs tools to ensure seamless cloud integration. The customization process includes:

• ☁️ Cloud-init integration: Enhanced OpenStack datasource configuration for automated provisioning
• 🔧 Minimal modifications: Preserves the original Amazon Linux 2023 experience with only essential cloud adaptations
• 📦 Clean deployment: Ready-to-use images with optimized cloud-init configuration
• 💾 Storage optimization: Image sparsification and compression for efficient deployment

✨ Key Features

• 🏢 Next-generation: Based on AWS's latest Amazon Linux 2023 distribution with modern architecture
• 🔒 Security-focused: Enhanced security features and regular updates from AWS
• ⚡ Performance optimized: Improved boot times and resource efficiency for cloud workloads
• 🌐 Cloud-native: Full cloud-init support with multiple datasource compatibility
• 🤖 Automated builds: Images automatically updated when AWS releases new versions
• 🔄 Minimal changes: Maintains full compatibility with existing Amazon Linux workflows

📅 Update Schedule

Images are automatically built and released when AWS publishes new Amazon Linux 2023 versions on their official repository. The CI/CD pipeline ensures fresh images with the latest security updates and cloud optimizations.

(back to top)

🚀 How to use this image

☁️ OpenStack

1. Set your OpenStack environment variables
2. Download the latest image from the 📥 repository page
3. Upload image to your OpenStack environment:

   openstack image create --disk-format=qcow2 --container-format=bare --min-disk 25 --file al2023-kvm-<VERSION>-kernel-6.1-x86_64.xfs.gpt.qcow2 'Amazon Linux 2023'

🖥️ Proxmox VE

1. Download the latest image from the 📥 repository page

2. Copy the image to your Proxmox storage:

   scp al2023-kvm-<VERSION>-kernel-6.1-x86_64.xfs.gpt.qcow2 root@proxmox-host:/var/lib/vz/template/iso/

3. Create a new VM using the uploaded image:

   # Create VM with cloud-init support
   qm create <VMID> --name amazon-linux-2023-template --memory 1024 --cores 2 --net0 virtio,bridge=vmbr0
   
   # Import the disk
   qm importdisk <VMID> al2023-kvm-<VERSION>-kernel-6.1-x86_64.xfs.gpt.qcow2 <STORAGE>
   
   # Configure the VM
   qm set <VMID> --scsihw virtio-scsi-pci --scsi0 <STORAGE>:vm-<VMID>-disk-0
   qm set <VMID> --boot c --bootdisk scsi0
   qm set <VMID> --ide2 <STORAGE>:cloudinit
   qm set <VMID> --serial0 socket --vga serial0

4. Configure cloud-init settings:

   # Example cloud-init configuration
   qm set <VMID> --ciuser ec2-user --cipassword <PASSWORD>
   qm set <VMID> --sshkeys ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
   qm set <VMID> --ipconfig0 ip=dhcp

🔧 Default Configuration

• Default user: ec2-user (maintains AWS compatibility)
• SSH access: Key-based authentication enabled by default
• Cloud-init: Configured with OpenStack, NoCloud, ConfigDrive, and VMware datasources
• Package manager: DNF with security updates enabled
• Root access: Disabled by default (use sudo with ec2-user)
• Kernel: Linux 6.1 LTS for enhanced performance and security

(back to top)

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are what make the open source community such an amazing place to learn, inspire, and create. Any contributions you make are greatly appreciated.

If you have a suggestion that would make this better, please fork the repo and create a pull request. You can also simply open an issue with the tag "enhancement". Don't forget to give the project a star! ⭐ Thanks again!

1. 🍴 Fork the Project
2. 🌿 Create your Feature Branch (git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature)
3. 💾 Commit your Changes (git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature')
4. 📤 Push to the Branch (git push origin feature/AmazingFeature)
5. 🔀 Open a Pull Request

(back to top)

📄 License

Distributed under the GPL-2.0 License. See LICENSE.md for more information.

(back to top)

📞 Contact

Kevin Allioli - 🐦 @NetArchitect404 - 📧 kevin@netarch.cloud

Project Link: 🔗 https://github.com/open-img-cloud/amazon-linux-2023

(back to top)