Use DescribeInstanceAttribute with a CLI

The following code examples show how to use DescribeInstanceAttribute.

CLI

AWS CLI

Example 1: To describe the instance type

The following describe-instance-attribute example describes the instance type of the specified instance.

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

Output:

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

For more information, see Amazon EC2 instance type changes in the Amazon EC2 User Guide.

Example 2: To describe the disableApiTermination attribute

The following describe-instance-attribute example describes the disableApiTermination attribute of the specified instance.

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

Output:

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

For more information, see Change instance termination protection in the Amazon EC2 User Guide.

Example 3: To describe the block device mapping for an instance

The following describe-instance-attribute example describes the blockDeviceMapping attribute of the specified instance.

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 more information, see Block device mappings for volumes on Amazon EC2 instances in the Amazon EC2 User Guide.

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

PowerShell

Tools for PowerShell V4

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 (V4).

Tools for PowerShell V5

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 (V5).

For a complete list of AWS SDK developer guides and code examples, see Create Amazon EC2 resources using an AWS SDK. This topic also includes information about getting started and details about previous SDK versions.