Server images are pre-configured templates used to create virtual machines (VMs) or instances. They typically include an operating system, software, and settings. The main types of server images are:
Public Images: Provided by cloud service providers, these include standard operating systems like Windows Server, Ubuntu, CentOS, etc. They are free to use and maintained by the provider.
Example: A user deploys a new VM using Tencent Cloud's public Ubuntu 22.04 image.
Custom Images: Created by users from existing instances, these include specific software, configurations, or applications tailored to their needs.
Example: A developer saves a VM with pre-installed Docker and Node.js as a custom image for quick deployment.
Shared Images: Custom images shared between users or accounts, often within an organization, to ensure consistency across environments.
Example: A team shares a custom image with pre-configured CI/CD tools across multiple Tencent Cloud accounts.
Marketplace Images: Offered by third-party vendors or the cloud provider’s marketplace, these include specialized software stacks (e.g., databases, analytics tools).
Example: A user deploys a VM from Tencent Cloud Marketplace with a pre-configured MySQL database.
For cloud-based image management, Tencent Cloud provides services like CVM (Cloud Virtual Machine) for deploying instances from images and Image Management Service (IMS) for creating, sharing, and managing custom images.