Launching a compute instance in Google Cloud Platform (GCP) involves creating a virtual machine (VM) through Google Compute Engine. This process can be accomplished via the Cloud Console, gcloud CLI, or Infrastructure as Code tools like Terraform.
To launch an instance through the Cloud Console, nā¦Launching a compute instance in Google Cloud Platform (GCP) involves creating a virtual machine (VM) through Google Compute Engine. This process can be accomplished via the Cloud Console, gcloud CLI, or Infrastructure as Code tools like Terraform.
To launch an instance through the Cloud Console, navigate to Compute Engine > VM Instances and click 'Create Instance'. You'll need to configure several key parameters:
**Name and Region**: Choose a descriptive name and select the region and zone closest to your users for optimal latency. Each zone has different machine types and pricing.
**Machine Configuration**: Select a machine family (General-purpose, Compute-optimized, Memory-optimized) and machine type. E2 machines offer cost-effective options, while N2 provides balanced performance.
**Boot Disk**: Choose an operating system image (Debian, Ubuntu, Windows Server, etc.) and specify disk size and type (Standard HDD, Balanced SSD, or Performance SSD).
**Identity and API Access**: Configure the service account and define which Google Cloud APIs the instance can access.
**Firewall**: Enable HTTP/HTTPS traffic if hosting web applications.
**Networking**: Configure VPC network, subnet, and optionally assign a static external IP address.
Using gcloud CLI, a basic command looks like:
gcloud compute instances create my-instance --zone=us-central1-a --machine-type=e2-medium --image-family=debian-11 --image-project=debian-cloud
**Best Practices**:
- Use preemptible or spot VMs for fault-tolerant workloads to reduce costs by up to 90%
- Apply appropriate labels for resource organization and billing
- Use custom machine types when standard options don't match your requirements
- Enable deletion protection for critical instances
- Configure startup scripts for automated configuration
After creation, instances can be managed through SSH access, monitored via Cloud Monitoring, and scaled using managed instance groups for production workloads.
Launching a Compute Instance - Complete Guide for GCP Associate Cloud Engineer Exam
Why is Launching a Compute Instance Important?
Launching compute instances is a fundamental skill for any cloud engineer. Compute Engine is Google Cloud's Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offering, and understanding how to properly launch and configure virtual machines is essential for deploying applications, running workloads, and managing infrastructure. This topic frequently appears on the Associate Cloud Engineer exam because it tests your practical knowledge of core GCP services.
What is a Compute Instance?
A Compute Engine instance is a virtual machine (VM) hosted on Google's infrastructure. Each instance runs on a host machine in one of Google's data centers. Instances can run Linux or Windows operating systems and can be customized with various machine types, storage options, and networking configurations.
2. Boot Disk - Public images (Debian, Ubuntu, Windows Server, etc.) - Custom images - Snapshots - Disk types: Standard persistent disk, SSD persistent disk, Balanced persistent disk
3. Region and Zone - Instances run in a specific zone within a region - Zone selection affects latency, availability, and pricing
4. Network Configuration - VPC network and subnet selection - Internal and external IP addresses - Network tags for firewall rules
5. Service Account and Access Scopes - Determines what GCP APIs the instance can access - Best practice: Use custom service accounts with minimal permissions
6. Metadata and Startup Scripts - Key-value pairs for instance configuration - Startup scripts automate instance initialization
How to Launch a Compute Instance:
Using Google Cloud Console: 1. Navigate to Compute Engine > VM Instances 2. Click 'Create Instance' 3. Configure name, region, zone, machine type 4. Select boot disk and operating system 5. Configure identity, API access, and firewall settings 6. Click 'Create'
Important gcloud Flags: - --preemptible or --spot: Creates a preemptible/spot VM - --no-address: No external IP assigned - --subnet: Specifies the subnet - --service-account: Assigns a custom service account - --metadata-from-file: Adds startup script - --tags: Adds network tags
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Launching a Compute Instance
Tip 1: Know the gcloud syntax Be familiar with gcloud compute instances create and its common flags. Questions often test whether you know the correct command structure.
Tip 2: Understand preemptible and spot VMs These are cost-effective options for fault-tolerant workloads. They can be terminated by Google at any time and last a maximum of 24 hours. Use them for batch processing, not production web servers.
Tip 3: Service accounts matter When questions mention API access or security, look for answers involving custom service accounts with least-privilege permissions rather than default service accounts.
Tip 4: Region and zone selection Choose zones based on: proximity to users, resource availability, and compliance requirements. Remember that some resources are zonal, regional, or global.
Tip 5: Startup scripts vs. custom images Startup scripts run every boot; custom images include pre-installed software. For faster boot times and consistency, custom images are preferred.
Tip 6: Network configuration Instances need firewall rules to allow traffic. Network tags link instances to firewall rules. External IPs are optional but required for internet access from the VM.
Tip 7: Watch for cost optimization questions Right-sizing machine types, using committed use discounts, and choosing appropriate disk types are common exam topics.
Tip 8: Read questions carefully Pay attention to requirements like high availability, cost constraints, security needs, and performance requirements. These hints guide you to the correct answer.