Image

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An Image is an identifiable Artifact that packages software, configuration, files, metadata, and other content used to instantiate a computing subject.

An Image may be used to instantiate:

• A virtual machine
• A containerized workload
• A computing device
• A platform component
• A runtime environment
• Another deployable computing subject

An Image may contain:

• Executable software
• Operating-system content
• Runtime libraries
• Application files
• Configuration files
• Startup instructions
• Security controls
• Dependency information
• Identifying metadata
• One or more Image Layers

An Image may participate in:

• Image building
• Image composition
• Image signing
• Image verification
• Compliance assessment
• Image promotion
• Repository publication
• Offline Transfer
• Deployment
• Replacement
• Retirement

An Image differs from an instance:

• An Image is the Artifact used to instantiate a computing subject
• An instance is a realized computing subject created from an Image

Multiple instances may originate from the same Image while maintaining separate runtime state.

An Image differs from an Image Layer:

• An Image is the complete Artifact used to instantiate a computing subject
• An Image Layer is an identifiable unit of content incorporated into an Image

Specializations of Image include:

• Machine Image
• Container Image

identifiable artifact that packages software, configuration, files, metadata, and other content used to instantiate a computing subject

Dido Solutions, Inc. and Jackrabbit Consulting, Inc.

In Crucible documentation, Image refers to a deployable computing Artifact rather than a photograph, diagram, graphical representation, or filesystem backup unless the surrounding text explicitly establishes another meaning.

An Image may be identified by:

• A name
• A tag
• A content digest
• A Revision identifier
• A release identifier
• A combination of identifiers

An Image does not by itself establish that the Image is:

• Approved
• Signed
• Verified
• Free from vulnerabilities
• Compliant with an applicable Baseline
• Authorized for deployment
• Compatible with a target platform
• Suitable for a specified purpose

Separate requirements govern those determinations.

The term does not prescribe a particular image format, build tool, repository, runtime, virtualization platform, container platform, operating system, or Provider Implementation.

Crucible builds an Image containing controlled software, configuration, runtime files, security controls, and identifying metadata. A deployment process later uses the Image to instantiate a virtual machine or containerized workload.