# Images & Snapshots

IONOS Cloud offers a wide range of readily available public images that you can use instantly. In addition, you can also use your private images by uploading them to the IONOS Cloud infrastructure through the [<mark style="color:blue;">File Transfer Protocol (FTP)</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#file-transfer-protocol-ftp). Your IONOS Cloud account supports numerous Block Storage and ISO image types using an emulated CD-ROM drive, from which you can install an operating system or software directly.

Furthermore, you can create snapshots of provisioned block storage. Each snapshot is a separate instance, representing the state of the source block storage device while capturing the snapshot.

For Linux images, IONOS Cloud supports Cloud-Init to automate software package installations and instance configurations.

## Quick Links

Learn how to use images and snapshots features through the DCD.

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>IONOS Cloud Public Images</strong></mark></td><td>Learn how you can use operating system block storage images provided by IONOS Cloud.</td><td><a href="images-snapshots/public-images">public-images</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Private Images</strong></mark></td><td>Learn how to upload, access, and manage private images through FTP.</td><td><a href="images-snapshots/private-images">private-images</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Snapshots</strong></mark></td><td>Learn how to create and manage snapshots on any block storage.</td><td><a href="images-snapshots/snapshots">snapshots</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Boot with Cloud-Init</strong></mark></td><td>Learn how to install software packages and apply configuration automatically.</td><td><a href="images-snapshots/boot-cloud-init">boot-cloud-init</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Activate KMS Service for Windows Guests</strong></mark></td><td>Learn how to activate and manage Microsoft Windows OS using KMS.</td><td><a href="images-snapshots/microsoft-kms">microsoft-kms</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Developer Tools

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Images Cloud API</strong></mark></td><td>Access the Cloud API documentation for Images.</td><td><a href="https://api.ionos.com/docs/cloud/v6/#tag/Images">https://api.ionos.com/docs/cloud/v6/#tag/Images</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Snapshots Cloud API</strong></mark></td><td>Access the Cloud API documentation for Snapshots.</td><td><a href="https://api.ionos.com/docs/cloud/v6/#tag/Snapshots">https://api.ionos.com/docs/cloud/v6/#tag/Snapshots</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Images &#x26; Snapshots SDKs</strong></mark></td><td>Interact with the Images &#x26; Snapshots API using SDKs.</td><td><a href="https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/reference/software-development-kits/sdks">https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/reference/software-development-kits/sdks</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Config Management Tools</strong></mark></td><td>Explore configuration management tools compatible with Images &#x26; Snapshots.</td><td><a href="https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/reference/config-management-tools/config-management-tools">https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/reference/config-management-tools/config-management-tools</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>FAQ</strong></mark></td><td>Get answers to the most commonly encountered questions about Images &#x26; Snapshots.</td><td><a href="images-snapshots/images-snapshots-faq">images-snapshots-faq</a></td></tr></tbody></table>