# Alibabacloud Ecs Instance Ops > Alibaba Cloud ECS instance lifecycle operations. Use for creating, starting, stopping, restarting, releasing, and querying ECS instances. Covers instance status management, batch operations, and instance attribute modification. Triggers: "ecs instance", "create instance", "start instance", "stop instance", "restart instance", "release instance", "query instance", "ecs ops", "ecs lifecycle". - Skill: `aliyun/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add aliyun/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/aliyun/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: DevOps & Infra - Author: aliyun (https://skillmd.com/u/aliyun) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/aliyun/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops --- # ECS Instance Lifecycle Operations Manage the full lifecycle of Alibaba Cloud ECS instances: create, start, stop, restart, release, and query. > **Pre-check: Alibaba Cloud CLI must be installed and at least version 3.3.3.** ```bash aliyun version # must be >= 3.3.3; if not installed: /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL --connect-timeout 10 --max-time 120 https://aliyuncli.alicdn.com/setup.sh)" ``` > **Pre-check: Alibaba Cloud Credentials Required** > > **Security Rules:** > > - **NEVER** read, echo, or print AK/SK values > - **NEVER** ask the user to input AK/SK directly > - **NEVER** use `aliyun configure set` with literal credential values > - **ONLY** use `aliyun configure list` to check credential status > > ```bash > aliyun configure list > ``` > > If no valid profile exists, STOP and guide user to configure credentials. > > **Pre-check: Aliyun CLI plugin update required** > > ```bash > aliyun configure set --auto-plugin-install true > aliyun plugin update > ``` ## Observability (MUST follow for every aliyun command) Upon loading this skill, generate a random session ID (32-char lowercase hex string) once for the entire session. Use it as `{session-id}` below. **Rule: Every `aliyun` CLI command that calls a cloud API MUST include the `--user-agent` flag.** ``` --user-agent AlibabaCloud-Agent-Skills/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops/{session-id} ``` ## Cost Estimation (MUST before chargeable operations) Before executing any chargeable instance operation (run-instances, modify-instance-spec, modify-instance-charge-type), you **MUST** follow the `alibabacloud-cli-cost-estimation` skill to evaluate the cost impact at the **user task level**: 1. **Single operation** — Append `--estimate-cost` to the exact command before execution, present the quoted amount, and wait for user confirmation. 2. **Multi-step task** (e.g. stop + change spec + start) — Quote **all** chargeable steps up front using `--estimate-cost` and `--estimate-cost-context` as needed, present one consolidated cost plan, then ask for a **single confirmation** of the whole task before executing step 1. 3. **Never silently execute** a chargeable instance operation when a cost quote was obtainable. > The cost evaluation output **must** include a clearly labelled cost summary section so the user can identify it before confirming. See the `alibabacloud-cli-cost-estimation` SKILL.md for the full cost plan format, quote JSON parsing, and multi-step workflow quoting rules. ## Core Workflow > **IMPORTANT: Parameter Confirmation** — Before executing any command or API call, > ALL user-customizable parameters (e.g., RegionId, instance names, CIDR blocks, > passwords, domain names, resource specifications, etc.) MUST be confirmed with the > user. Do NOT assume or use default values without explicit user approval. ### 1. Query Instances List instances in a region with optional filters: ```bash # List all instances in a region aliyun ecs describe-instances --biz-region-id \ --user-agent AlibabaCloud-Agent-Skills/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops/{session-id} # Query specific instance by ID aliyun ecs describe-instances --biz-region-id \ --instance-ids '[""]' \ --user-agent AlibabaCloud-Agent-Skills/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops/{session-id} # Filter by status (Running, Stopped, Starting, Stopping, Pending) aliyun ecs describe-instances --biz-region-id \ --status Running \ --user-agent AlibabaCloud-Agent-Skills/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops/{session-id} # Filter by instance name aliyun ecs describe-instances --biz-region-id \ --instance-name "" \ --user-agent AlibabaCloud-Agent-Skills/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops/{session-id} ``` ### 2. Create and Start Instance > **Cost estimation**: Before executing `run-instances`, run with `--estimate-cost` to get a quote. Present the cost to the user (e.g. "Estimated instance cost: ¥X/month (PostPaid) or ¥X (PrePaid). Proceed?"). ```bash # Create and start instance (RunInstances) aliyun ecs run-instances \ --biz-region-id \ --security-group-id \ --v-switch-id \ --image-id \ --instance-type \ --instance-name \ --system-disk.category cloud_essd \ --system-disk.size 40 \ --instance-charge-type PostPaid \ --internet-max-bandwidth-out 0 \ --user-agent AlibabaCloud-Agent-Skills/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops/{session-id} ``` ### 3. Start / Stop / Restart Instance ```bash # Start instance aliyun ecs start-instance --instance-id \ --user-agent AlibabaCloud-Agent-Skills/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops/{session-id} # Stop instance (graceful) aliyun ecs stop-instance --instance-id \ --user-agent AlibabaCloud-Agent-Skills/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops/{session-id} # Stop instance (force) aliyun ecs stop-instance --instance-id \ --force-stop true \ --user-agent AlibabaCloud-Agent-Skills/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops/{session-id} # Restart instance aliyun ecs reboot-instance --instance-id \ --user-agent AlibabaCloud-Agent-Skills/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops/{session-id} ``` ### 4. Release Instance ```bash # Release a Pay-As-You-Go instance aliyun ecs delete-instance --instance-id --force true \ --user-agent AlibabaCloud-Agent-Skills/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops/{session-id} ``` > **WARNING:** Instance release is irreversible. Always confirm with the user before executing. ### 5. Modify Instance Attributes > **Cost estimation**: Before executing `modify-instance-spec`, run with `--estimate-cost` to get a quote for the spec change delta. Present the cost to the user (e.g. "Estimated spec change delta: ¥X. Proceed?"). ```bash # Modify instance name aliyun ecs modify-instance-attribute --instance-id \ --instance-name "" \ --user-agent AlibabaCloud-Agent-Skills/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops/{session-id} # Modify instance type (requires stop first) aliyun ecs modify-instance-spec --instance-id \ --instance-type \ --user-agent AlibabaCloud-Agent-Skills/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops/{session-id} ``` ## RAM Policy | Action | Resource | |--------|----------| | `ecs:DescribeInstances` | `*` | | `ecs:RunInstances` | `*` | | `ecs:StartInstance` | `acs:ecs:*:*:instance/` | | `ecs:StopInstance` | `acs:ecs:*:*:instance/` | | `ecs:RebootInstance` | `acs:ecs:*:*:instance/` | | `ecs:DeleteInstance` | `acs:ecs:*:*:instance/` | | `ecs:ModifyInstanceAttribute` | `acs:ecs:*:*:instance/` | | `ecs:ModifyInstanceSpec` | `acs:ecs:*:*:instance/` | > **[MUST] Permission Failure Handling:** When any command or API call fails due to permission errors at any point during execution, follow this process: > > 1. Read `references/ram-policies.md` to get the full list of permissions required by this SKILL > 2. Use `ram-permission-diagnose` skill to guide the user through requesting the necessary permissions > 3. Pause and wait until the user confirms that the required permissions have been granted ## Success Verification ```bash # Verify instance status after operations aliyun ecs describe-instances --biz-region-id \ --instance-ids '[""]' \ --user-agent AlibabaCloud-Agent-Skills/alibabacloud-ecs-instance-ops/{session-id} # Check Status field: Running, Stopped, Starting, Stopping ``` ## Related Commands Reference See `references/related-commands.md` for the complete ECS instance CLI command reference.