AWS Snowball Edge is no longer available to new customers. New customers should explore [AWS DataSync](https://aws.amazon.com/datasync/) for online transfers, [AWS Data Transfer Terminal](https://aws.amazon.com/data-transfer-terminal/) for secure physical transfers, or AWS Partner solutions. For edge computing, explore [AWS Outposts](https://aws.amazon.com/outposts/). 

# Supported EC2-compatible instance metadata and user data on Snowball Edge
<a name="edge-compute-instance-metadata"></a>

*Instance metadata* is data about your instance that you can use to configure or manage the running instance. Snowball Edge supports a subset of instance metadata categories for your compute instances. For more information, see [Instance metadata and user data](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/ec2-instance-metadata.html) in the Amazon EC2 User Guide.

The following categories are supported. Using any other categories returns a `404` error message.


**Supported instance metadata categories on a Snowball Edge device**  

| Data | Description | 
| --- | --- | 
|  ami-id  | The AMI ID used to launch the instance. | 
| hostname | The private IPv4 DNS hostname of the instance. | 
|  instance-id  | The ID of this instance. | 
|  instance-type  | The type of instance. | 
|  local-hostname  | The private IPv4 DNS hostname of the instance. | 
|  local-ipv4  | The private IPv4 address of the instance. | 
|  mac  | The instance's media access control (MAC) address. | 
|  network/interfaces/macs/mac/local-hostname  | The interface's local hostname. | 
|  network/interfaces/macs/mac/local-ipv4s  | The private IPv4 addresses associated with the interface. | 
|  network/interfaces/macs/mac/mac  | The instance's MAC address. | 
|  network/interfaces/macs/mac/public-ipv4s  | The Elastic IP addresses associated with the interface. | 
|  public-ipv4  | The public IPv4 address. | 
|  public-keys/0/openssh-key  | Public key. Only available if supplied at instance launch time. | 
|  reservation-id  | The ID of the reservation. | 
| userData | Shell scripts to send instructions to an instance at launch. | 


**Supported instance dynamic data categories on a Snowball Edge device**  

| Data | Description | 
| --- | --- | 
| instance-identity/document | JSON containing instance attributes. Only instanceId, imageId, privateIp, and instanceType have values, and the other returned attributes are null. For more information, see [Instance Identity Documents](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/instance-identity-documents.html) in the Amazon EC2 User Guide. | 

## Computer instance user data on Snowball Edge
<a name="userdatasupport"></a>

Use shell scripts to access compute instance user data on a Snowball Edge device. Using shell scripts, you can send instructions to an instance at launch. You can change user data with the `modify-instance-attribute` AWS CLI command, or the `ModifyInstanceAttribute` API action.

**To change user data**

1. Stop your compute instance with the `stop-instances` AWS CLI command.

1. Using the `modify-instance-attribute` AWS CLI command, modify the `userData` attribute.

1. Restart your compute instance with the `start-instances` AWS CLI command.

Only shell scripts are supported for compute instances. There is no support for `cloud-init` package directives on compute instances running on a Snowball Edge device. For more information about working with AWS CLI commands, see the *[AWS CLI Command Reference](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/reference/).*