Use DescribeInstanceAttribute with a 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"
            }
        }
    ],
}

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