When launching an Ubuntu Pro image via the AWS EC2 console, the interface typically displays only the most recent releases. However, because Ubuntu Pro provides 10 years of support, older versions—such as 18.04 and 20.04—remain fully supported and available.
This tutorial outlines how to locate and launch these older versions directly from the EC2 web console, which is helpful if you are unable to use the AWS CLI or AWS Marketplace directly.
Option 1: Using Marketplace Images
- In the EC2 console, navigate to the OS selection section during instance launch.
- Click the Browse more AMIs link. See image 1
- Select AWS Marketplace AMIs tab.
- (Optional) Click Publisher and select either “Canonical Group Limited” or “Amazon Web Services” to narrow your search.
- Search for the specific Ubuntu version, select the appropriate image, and proceed with the launch. See image 2
Option 2: Using the Image Name
- Go to the official Ubuntu documentation page.
- Select the Use describe images tab.
- Choose the desired version (e.g., “focal”) from the dropdown menu.
- Copy the image name from the suggested command. See image 3
- In the EC2 console, select AMIs from the left-hand menu under Images.
- Select Public images from the dropdown menu and paste the image name into the search bar.
- Select the AMI ID and click Launch instance from AMI to proceed to the configuration wizard. See image 4
Option 3: Using the AWS CLI in CloudShell
- Go to the official Ubuntu documentation page.
- Select the Using SSM Parameter Store tab.
- Select your desired version (e.g., “focal”) from the dropdown menu and copy the generated AWS CLI command. See image 5
- Open the AWS CloudShell and paste the command to retrieve the specific AMI ID. See image 6
- Once you have the AMI ID, go to the EC2 console and select AMIs from the left-hand menu.
- Select Public images from the dropdown menu and paste the AMI ID into the search bar.
- Select the image and click the Launch instance from AMI button to continue. See image 7
Tip: Ensure your CloudShell is set to the correct AWS region for your specific deployment before running the CLI command.
