title: How do I create an AMI from my EBS backed EC2 instance?
body: <p>I have an EBS backed EC2 running instance. The EBS store holds a database. I would like to create an AMI from this. Can someone please provide guidelines?</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Do I have to shut down MySQL?</li>
  <li>Will my AMI attempt to connect to the same EBS store?! (disaster)</li>
  <li>Will creating the AMI automatically snapshot my EBS volume and create a copy? (hoping it's this one)</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Thanks for your patience through a long question. I recognize there's similar information out there, but nothing really addresses what may go wrong. </p>
  
  <p>This SO question:</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://instantbadger.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-to-create-and-save-ami-image-from.html" rel="noreferrer" title="This Question">http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4475532/creating-an-ec2-ami-with-an-ebs-backed-instance-is-it-possible</a> </p>
  
  <p>is specific to ElasticFox and I'm not using any tools (prefer command line). I don't believe the question is answered either. </p>
  
  <p>This blog:</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://instantbadger.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-to-create-and-save-ami-image-from.html" rel="noreferrer" title="blog">http://instantbadger.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-to-create-and-save-ami-image-from.html</a> </p>
  
  <p>while instructive about creating an AMI, does not mention EBS at all and I'm a little worried about all that data. </p>
  
  <p>Thanks in advance!</p>