Use DescribeInstanceAttribute with an AWS SDK or CLI

The following code examples show how to use DescribeInstanceAttribute.

CLI

AWS CLI

To describe the instance type

This example describes the instance type of the specified instance.

Command:

aws ec2 describe-instance-attribute --instance-id i-1234567890abcdef0 --attribute instanceType

Output:

{
    "InstanceId": "i-1234567890abcdef0"
    "InstanceType": {
        "Value": "t1.micro"
    }
}

To describe the disableApiTermination attribute

This example describes the disableApiTermination attribute of the specified instance.

Command:

aws ec2 describe-instance-attribute --instance-id i-1234567890abcdef0 --attribute disableApiTermination

Output:

{
"InstanceId": "i-1234567890abcdef0"
    "DisableApiTermination": {
        "Value": "false"
    }
}

To describe the block device mapping for an instance

This example describes the blockDeviceMapping attribute of the specified instance.

Command:

aws ec2 describe-instance-attribute --instance-id i-1234567890abcdef0 --attribute blockDeviceMapping

Output:

{
    "InstanceId": "i-1234567890abcdef0"
    "BlockDeviceMappings": [
        {
            "DeviceName": "/dev/sda1",
            "Ebs": {
                "Status": "attached",
                "DeleteOnTermination": true,
                "VolumeId": "vol-049df61146c4d7901",
                "AttachTime": "2013-05-17T22:42:34.000Z"
            }
        },
        {
            "DeviceName": "/dev/sdf",
            "Ebs": {
                "Status": "attached",
                "DeleteOnTermination": false,
                "VolumeId": "vol-049df61146c4d7901",
                "AttachTime": "2013-09-10T23:07:00.000Z"
            }
        }
    ],
}

• For API details, see DescribeInstanceAttribute in AWS CLI Command Reference.

PowerShell

Tools for PowerShell

Example 1: This example describes the instance type of the specified instance.

Get-EC2InstanceAttribute -InstanceId i-12345678 -Attribute instanceType

Output:

InstanceType                      : t2.micro

Example 2: This example describes whether enhanced networking is enabled for the specified instance.

Get-EC2InstanceAttribute -InstanceId i-12345678 -Attribute sriovNetSupport

Output:

SriovNetSupport                   : simple

Example 3: This example describes the security groups for the specified instance.

(Get-EC2InstanceAttribute -InstanceId i-12345678 -Attribute groupSet).Groups

Output:

GroupId
-------
sg-12345678
sg-45678901

Example 4: This example describes whether EBS optimization is enabled for the specified instance.

Get-EC2InstanceAttribute -InstanceId i-12345678 -Attribute ebsOptimized

Output:

EbsOptimized                      : False

Example 5: This example describes the 'disableApiTermination' attribute of the specified instance.

Get-EC2InstanceAttribute -InstanceId i-12345678 -Attribute disableApiTermination

Output:

DisableApiTermination             : False

Example 6: This example describes the 'instanceInitiatedShutdownBehavior' attribute of the specified instance.

Get-EC2InstanceAttribute -InstanceId i-12345678 -Attribute instanceInitiatedShutdownBehavior

Output:

InstanceInitiatedShutdownBehavior : stop

• For API details, see DescribeInstanceAttribute in AWS Tools for PowerShell Cmdlet Reference.