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AWS AWSEC2 documentation change

Service: AWSEC2 · 2026-07-04 · Documentation low

File: AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/snp-work-launch.md

Summary

Expanded AMD SEV-SNP documentation to include Dedicated Host allocation, instance launching on dedicated hosts, firmware updates, and shared tenancy launch procedures. Added detailed CLI/PowerShell examples and operational guidance.

Security assessment

The changes document AMD SEV-SNP (a hardware-based memory encryption security feature) implementation procedures. While this adds security feature documentation, there's no evidence of addressing a specific vulnerability or incident. The firmware update section mentions security patches but doesn't reference any CVE or specific threat.

Diff

diff --git a/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/snp-work-launch.md b/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/snp-work-launch.md
index aef4f17f8..930f1c45b 100644
--- a//AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/snp-work-launch.md
+++ b//AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/snp-work-launch.md
@@ -7 +7 @@
-Launch an instance with AMD SEV-SNP enabledCheck if an EC2 instance is enabled for AMD SEV-SNP
+Allocate a Dedicated Host with AMD SEV-SNPLaunch instances on a AMD SEV-SNP Dedicated HostUpdate firmware on a AMD SEV-SNP Dedicated HostLaunch an instance with AMD SEV-SNP on shared tenancyCheck if an EC2 instance is enabled for AMD SEV-SNP
@@ -13 +13 @@ You can launch an instance with AMD SEV-SNP enabled. You can't enable AMD SEV-SN
-## Launch an instance with AMD SEV-SNP enabled
+###### Contents
@@ -15 +15,138 @@ You can launch an instance with AMD SEV-SNP enabled. You can't enable AMD SEV-SN
-You can't enable AMD SEV-SNP using the Amazon EC2 console.
+  * Allocate a Dedicated Host with AMD SEV-SNP
+
+  * Launch instances on a AMD SEV-SNP Dedicated Host
+
+  * Update firmware on a AMD SEV-SNP Dedicated Host
+
+  * Launch an instance with AMD SEV-SNP on shared tenancy
+
+  * Check if an EC2 instance is enabled for AMD SEV-SNP
+
+
+
+
+## Allocate a Dedicated Host with AMD SEV-SNP
+
+Before you can launch instances with AMD SEV-SNP on a Dedicated Host, you must allocate a Dedicated Host with AMD SEV-SNP support enabled. You allocate a Dedicated Host by instance family (for example, m6a, r6a, or c6a), and then you can run any supported instance type from that family on the host. You can allocate a Dedicated Host with AMD SEV-SNP in any commercial AWS Region.
+
+Console
+    
+
+###### To allocate a Dedicated Host with AMD SEV-SNP enabled
+
+  1. Open the Amazon EC2 console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/ec2/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/ec2/).
+
+  2. In the navigation pane, choose **Dedicated Hosts**.
+
+  3. Choose **Allocate Dedicated Host**.
+
+  4. For **AMD SEV-SNP** , choose **Enable**.
+
+  5. Configure the remaining host settings as needed, and then choose **Allocate**.
+
+
+
+
+AWS CLI
+    
+
+###### To allocate a Dedicated Host with AMD SEV-SNP enabled
+
+Use the [allocate-hosts](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/reference/ec2/allocate-hosts.html) command with the `--instance-type` and `--cpu-options` parameters.
+    
+    
+    aws ec2 allocate-hosts \
+        --instance-type "m6a.large" \
+        --availability-zone "us-east-1a" \
+        --auto-placement "off" \
+        --cpu-options AmdSevSnp=enabled \
+        --quantity 1
+
+The following is example output.
+    
+    
+    {
+        "HostIds": [
+            "h-0123456789abcdef0"
+        ]
+    }
+
+###### Note
+
+When you allocate a Dedicated Host with AMD SEV-SNP enabled, the host enters a `configuring` state while AWS applies the latest firmware. This can take from a few minutes up to 2 hours. You are charged during the `configuring` state.
+
+## Launch instances on a AMD SEV-SNP Dedicated Host
+
+You can launch an instance with AMD SEV-SNP enabled once the Dedicated Host is configured.
+
+###### Note
+
+You can also launch instances without AMD SEV-SNP enabled on a Dedicated Host that was allocated with AMD SEV-SNP. Both AMD SEV-SNP and non-AMD SEV-SNP instances can run alongside each other on the same host.
+
+AWS CLI
+    
+
+###### To launch an instance with AMD SEV-SNP on a Dedicated Host
+
+Use the [run-instances](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/reference/ec2/run-instances.html) command with the `--cpu-options` and `--placement` options. Replace `h-0123456789abcdef0` with the ID of your allocated Dedicated Host.
+    
+    
+    aws ec2 run-instances \
+        --instance-type m6a.xlarge \
+        --image-id ami-0123456789example \
+        --cpu-options AmdSevSnp=enabled \
+        --placement HostId=h-0123456789abcdef0
+
+PowerShell
+    
+
+###### To launch an instance with AMD SEV-SNP on a Dedicated Host
+
+Use the [New-EC2Instance](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/powershell/latest/reference/items/New-EC2Instance.html) cmdlet with the `-CpuOption` and `-Placement_HostId` parameters.
+    
+    
+    New-EC2Instance `
+        -InstanceType m6a.xlarge `
+        -ImageId ami-0123456789example `
+        -CpuOption @{AmdSevSnp="enabled"} `
+        -Placement_HostId h-0123456789abcdef0
+
+## Update firmware on a AMD SEV-SNP Dedicated Host
+
+When you allocate a Dedicated Host with AMD SEV-SNP enabled, AWS applies the latest available firmware to the host. Firmware updates can include security patches and feature improvements from AMD.
+
+To apply firmware updates, allocate a new host (which receives the latest firmware), move your instances to the new host, and then release the old host.
+
+  1. Allocate a new Dedicated Host with AMD SEV-SNP enabled. The new host receives the latest available firmware. For more information, see Allocate a Dedicated Host with AMD SEV-SNP.
+
+  2. Stop the running instances on the old Dedicated Host.
+    
+        aws ec2 stop-instances \
+        --instance-ids i-0123456789example
+
+  3. Modify the instance placement to target the new Dedicated Host. Use the [modify-instance-placement](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/reference/ec2/modify-instance-placement.html) command.
+    
+        aws ec2 modify-instance-placement \
+        --instance-id i-0123456789example \
+        --host-id h-09876543210abcdef
+
+  4. Start the instances on the new Dedicated Host.
+    
+        aws ec2 start-instances \
+        --instance-ids i-0123456789example
+
+  5. Release the old Dedicated Host. Use the [release-hosts](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/reference/ec2/release-hosts.html) command.
+    
+        aws ec2 release-hosts \
+        --host-ids h-0123456789abcdef0
+
+
+
+
+###### Note
+
+You receive maintenance notifications for your Dedicated Hosts the same way you receive them for other Dedicated Host maintenance events. When you receive a notification, follow the preceding steps to move to a new host with updated firmware.
+
+## Launch an instance with AMD SEV-SNP on shared tenancy
+
+You can launch an instance with AMD SEV-SNP on shared tenancy in US East (Ohio) and Europe (Ireland).
@@ -20 +157 @@ AWS CLI
-###### To launch an instance with AMD SEV-SNP enabled
+###### To launch an instance with AMD SEV-SNP on shared tenancy
@@ -22 +159 @@ AWS CLI
-Use the [run-instances](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/reference/ec2/run-instances.html) command with the `--cpu-options` option. For additional requirements, see [AMD SEV-SNP requirements](./sev-snp.html#snp-requirements).
+Use the [run-instances](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/reference/ec2/run-instances.html) command with the `--cpu-options` option.
@@ -24,0 +162,3 @@ Use the [run-instances](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/reference/ec2/run
+    aws ec2 run-instances \
+        --instance-type m6a.xlarge \
+        --image-id ami-0123456789example \
@@ -30 +170 @@ PowerShell
-###### To launch an instance with AMD SEV-SNP enabled
+###### To launch an instance with AMD SEV-SNP on shared tenancy
@@ -34,0 +175,3 @@ Use the [New-EC2Instance](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/powershell/latest/referenc
+    New-EC2Instance `
+        -InstanceType m6a.xlarge `
+        -ImageId ami-0123456789example `