A VM image is a template that contains an operating system and preconfigured software used to create virtual machines. Images serve as reproducible blueprints, ensuring consistent environments across deployments. Cloud providers offer base images and allow teams to create custom images for specialized workloads.
Why it matters
VM images simplify provisioning, standardize environments, and speed up scaling operations. They reduce configuration drift and ensure that newly launched VMs match production standards.
Examples
Using an Ubuntu AMI on AWS or creating a custom image with preinstalled application dependencies. Related lessons appear in cloud deployment modules.