Amazon EKS default AMI

When you create an Amazon EKS compute environment, you don't need to specify an Amazon Machine Image (AMI). AWS Batch selects an Amazon EKS optimized AMI based on the Kubernetes version and instance types that are specified in your CreateComputeEnvironment request. In general, we recommend that you use the default AMI selection. For more information about Amazon EKS optimized AMIs, see Amazon EKS optimized Amazon Linux AMIs in the Amazon EKS User Guide.

Important

Starting end of October 2025 Amazon EKS optimized Amazon Linux 2023 AMIs will be the default on AWS Batch for EKS versions prior to 1.33. Starting from Kubernetes version 1.33, EKS optimized Amazon Linux 2023 AMIs will be the default when it becomes supported on AWS Batch.

AWS will end support for Amazon EKS AL2-optimized and AL2-accelerated AMIs, starting 11/26/25. You can continue using AWS Batch-provided Amazon EKS optimized Amazon Linux 2 AMIs on your Amazon EKS compute environments beyond the 11/26/25 end-of-support date, however these compute environments will no longer receive any new software updates, security patches, or bug fixes from AWS. For more information on upgrading from AL2 to AL2023, see How to upgrade from EKS AL2 to EKS AL2023 in the AWS Batch User Guide.

Run the following command to see which AMI type AWS Batch selected for your Amazon EKS compute environment. This following example is a non-GPU instance type.

# compute CE example: indicates Batch has chosen the AL2 x86 or ARM EKS 1.32 AMI, depending on instance types
    $ aws batch describe-compute-environments --compute-environments My-Eks-CE1 \
        | jq '.computeEnvironments[].computeResources.ec2Configuration'
    [
      {
        "imageType": "EKS_AL2",
        "imageKubernetesVersion": "1.32"
      }
    ]

This following example is a GPU instance type.

# GPU CE example: indicates Batch has choosen the AL2 x86 EKS Accelerated 1.32 AMI
    $ aws batch describe-compute-environments --compute-environments My-Eks-GPU-CE \
        | jq '.computeEnvironments[].computeResources.ec2Configuration'
    [
      {
        "imageType": "EKS_AL2_NVIDIA",
        "imageKubernetesVersion": "1.32"
      }
    ]