Where to find your virtual machine details in AWS

Your VM configuration details live in the EC2 dashboard, which is the control panel for all your virtual machines on AWS. When you log into your AWS account and navigate to EC2, you will see a list of your running instances. Click on any instance name or ID, and the details panel opens on the right side of the screen — this is where AWS shows you the information you need.

The details you see depend on which tab you are viewing. The most useful tabs are Details, Security, and Networking. Each one groups related settings together so you do not have to hunt through dozens of fields to find what matters for your particular task.

Key Takeaways

  • Instance configuration details appear in the EC2 dashboard when you select an instance — no special tools or downloads required.
  • The Details tab shows your instance type, AMI ID, launch time, and root volume information in one place.
  • Security groups and key pairs are listed under the Security tab, which is where you check firewall rules and SSH access settings.
  • The Networking tab displays your VPC, subnet, private IP address, and public IP address if one is assigned.
  • You can export a summary of your instance configuration by using the Instance State menu or by taking a screenshot of each tab.

The Details tab: instance type, AMI, and storage

Open the EC2 dashboard, find your instance in the list, and click its ID (it looks like i-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8). The Details tab opens by default. Here you will see the Instance Type — this is the size and capability of your VM, like t3.micro or m5.large. The instance type determines how much CPU, memory, and network performance your machine has.

Below that is the AMI ID, which is the image your instance was launched from — the operating system and pre-installed software. If you need to launch another VM with the same setup, copy this ID. You will also see the Launch Time, which tells you when the instance started, and the Root Volume ID, which is the disk your operating system runs on. The root volume ID starts with vol- and is useful if you need to manage storage or create a backup.

The Security tab: firewall rules and SSH access

Click the Security tab to see your Security Groups and Key Pair Name. Security groups are the firewall rules that control which traffic can reach your instance. Each security group is listed by name — click on it to see the inbound and outbound rules. Inbound rules show what ports and protocols are open (for example, port 22 for SSH, port 80 for HTTP). If you cannot connect to your instance, the security group is usually the first place to check.

The Key Pair Name is the SSH key you use to log into your instance. If you are setting up a new machine and need to connect via SSH, this tells you which key file to use. If the key pair name is missing or you do not have the corresponding private key file, you will not be able to log in — you would need to create a new instance or use AWS Systems Manager Session Manager as an alternative.

The Networking tab: IP addresses and VPC settings

The Networking tab shows where your instance lives in your AWS network. You will see the VPC ID (the virtual network your instance belongs to), the Subnet ID (a smaller section of that network), and your Private IP Address (the internal address other machines on the same network use to reach you). The private IP address usually starts with 10. or 172. or 192.

Below that is the Public IP Address or Elastic IP Address if one is assigned. This is the address you use to reach your instance from the internet. If you see "None" in this field, your instance cannot be reached from outside AWS unless you assign a public IP. The Networking tab also lists your Network Interfaces, which are the virtual network cards attached to your instance — most instances have one, but you can attach more if you need multiple network connections.

Storage and block device information

Scroll down in the Details tab to find Block Devices. This section lists all the disks attached to your instance. You will see the root volume (where your operating system lives) and any additional volumes you have added. Each volume shows its ID, size in GB, volume type (like gp3 or io1), and whether it will be deleted when the instance terminates.

If you need to add more storage or check how much disk space you have, this is where you see it. The volume type matters for performance — gp3 is general purpose and works for most tasks, while io1 is optimized for databases and high-speed applications. If you are running out of space, you can expand a volume from this view or attach a new one.

Monitoring and status information

The Details tab also shows your Instance State (running, stopped, terminated, or stopping) and Status Checks. Status checks tell you whether AWS detects any hardware problems with your instance. If you see a failed status check, your instance may have a problem that requires stopping and restarting it.

You can also see your Monitoring setting, which tells you whether CloudWatch is collecting detailed metrics about your instance. By default, AWS collects basic metrics every five minutes. If you enable detailed monitoring, you get data every minute, but this costs extra. For most purposes, basic monitoring is enough.

Exporting and documenting your configuration

AWS does not have a built-in "export configuration" button in the console, but you can document your settings in a few ways. The simplest is to take screenshots of each tab — Details, Security, and Networking — and save them. This gives you a record of your setup at a specific point in time.

If you need a more structured export, you can use the AWS CLI (command-line interface) to pull instance details in JSON format. The command aws ec2 describe-instances --instance-ids i-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8 returns all configuration details in a text file you can save and share. This is more useful if you are documenting many instances or need to compare configurations across machines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I find my instance ID if I only know the instance name?

In the EC2 dashboard, look for the Name column in your instances list. The instance ID is in the next column to the right. You can also search for the name in the search box at the top of the instances list, and AWS will filter to show only that instance.

What does it mean if my instance has no public IP address?

Your instance is not reachable from the internet. It can still communicate with other machines inside your VPC and with AWS services. If you need to access it from outside AWS, you can assign an Elastic IP address or use AWS Systems Manager Session Manager to connect without a public IP.

Can I change my instance type after it is running?

You can change it, but only to a compatible type. You must stop the instance first, then change the type in the Instance State menu. Not all instance types are compatible with each other — AWS will tell you which types are available for your instance. Changing the type requires downtime.

How do I know if my security group is blocking my connection?

Check the inbound rules in your security group. If you are trying to connect via SSH, port 22 must be open. For HTTP, port 80 must be open. For HTTPS, port 443. If the port you need is not listed, add a rule to allow it. Remember that the source IP address also matters — you can restrict access to specific IPs or allow all IPs (0.0.0.0/0).

What is the difference between a private IP and a public IP?

Your private IP is used only within your VPC and AWS network. Your public IP is the address the internet uses to reach you. Every instance has a private IP, but public IPs are optional and cost money if they are static (Elastic IP). If you stop and restart an instance, a regular public IP changes, but an Elastic IP stays the same.