Creating AMI from snapshot won't accept paravirtual virtualization type

Question

I have a snapshot I need to restore that was created the day before. I typically do this by creating an image from the snapshot and then launching an ec2 from the AMI using a launch template. The ec2 that the snapshot is created from has a virtualization type of paravirtual. When I create the image I select paravirtual. However, the image always creates with a virtualization type of hvm. Is there any reason why this would be happening? (I have tried older snapshots as well as with snapshots from other instances, but this keeps happening).

Rodney Lester
2 years ago
I don't have any paravirtual instances, but according to the documentation, you have to specify the Kernel ID that matches the source OS. You may also have to enter a RAM Disk ID if you are using that feature. Are you specifying those options?

Accepted Answer

I also tried: ec2-register -n pvami -s snap-0ffe4a3cb9932b167 --virtualization-type paravirtual 
to see if I could force the ami to paravirtual, but this didn't work either. The ami is still listed as hvm.

Answer

Thanks for getting back to me, Rodney. I checked and when I create the AMI I cannot select a kernel. It just says it is going to use the default.  I never selected one before, honestly.  I've checked a few other snapshots, both from the same ec2 I am using and others from different ec2's (All using paravirtual).

Creating AMI from snapshot won't accept paravirtual virtualization type

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