Delivering Custom AMIs to Customers via AWS Marketplace
An independent software vendor wants to deliver and share its custom Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) to prospective customers. Which AWS service will meet these requirements?
Community Votes
100% of anonymous learners picked answer A. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.
Community Insight
The question tests the distinction between general compute resources and commercial distribution channels, specifically highlighting that 'deliver' implies a marketplace listing rather than just instance creation.
AWS Marketplace is the designated service for independent software vendors to list, sell, and deliver custom Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) to prospective customers.
Learners often select Amazon EC2 because it is the underlying service running the AMI, but they overlook that EC2 itself is not a distribution or sharing platform for third-party products.
Community Discussion (3 comments)
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Expert Analysis
Why the Answer Is Correct
AWS Marketplace is the correct choice because it provides a digital catalog where Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) can list, sell, and distribute their software offerings, including custom Amazon Machine Images (AMIs). The key phrase in the question is "deliver and share... to prospective customers," which aligns perfectly with Marketplace's function as a transactional and distribution platform. By publishing an AMI to Marketplace, an ISV allows customers to browse, purchase, and deploy the image directly from the AWS console.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Amazon EC2 (Option C) is the compute service that runs the instances; while it hosts the AMIs, it does not provide the mechanism for an external vendor to list or sell them to other AWS accounts. AWS Data Exchange (Option B) is designed for finding, subscribing to, and using third-party data, not for distributing software images or applications. AWS Organizations (Option D) is used for managing multiple AWS accounts within an organization, not for public software distribution.
Community Comment Notes
The community consensus strongly supports AWS Marketplace, with users noting that it is the standard "place for independent vendors to sell and distribute their software products." Several comments highlighted the keyword "deliver" as the deciding factor, distinguishing the act of distribution from the act of computation. One user noted, "If suppose you want any other OS or Third party OS means, you can go to AWS market place and purchase and use," reinforcing the concept of third-party sourcing.
Exam Strategy
When questions involve 'selling', 'listing', or 'distributing' software to other AWS customers, always look for AWS Marketplace first. Do not confuse the product (the AMI) with the platform it runs on (EC2); the question asks about the delivery mechanism, not the execution environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't Amazon EC2 the answer if AMIs run on EC2?
EC2 is the infrastructure that executes the AMI, but it is not a distribution channel. You cannot 'sell' or 'list' an AMI directly through EC2; you must use Marketplace to reach prospective customers.
Can I share AMIs without using AWS Marketplace?
Yes, you can share AMIs privately with specific AWS accounts by modifying permissions, but Marketplace is required for public listing, billing integration, and reaching prospective customers broadly.
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