User-data formats

User-data encodes instructions used by cloud-init. User-data has multiple configuration types. Each type is identified by a unique header.

Configuration types

User-data formats can be categorized into those that directly configure the instance, and those that serve as a container, template, or means to obtain or modify another configuration.

Formats that directly configure the instance:

• Cloud-config

• User-data script

• Boothook

Formats that embed other formats:

• Include

• Jinja

• MIME

• Cloud-config archive

• Gzip

Continued reading

See the configuration sources documentation for information about configuration sources and priority.