Compute Engine offers the browser-based Google Cloud console tool that letsyou manage your Compute Engine resources through a graphicalinterface. Use the Google Cloud console to manage your resources if youprefer using a user-interface through the browser.

Alternatively, you can also use theGoogle Cloud CLI or theRESTful API.

This document briefly describes how to access the console and describessome unique features that the console offers.

Supported browsers

You can use the Google Cloud console in the following browsers:

• Chrome
• Safari
• Firefox
• Edge

Access the console

Go to the Google Cloud console

Console features

The console provides:

• Easy access to all your Google Cloud Platform projects.
• Access to theGoogle Cloud Shell.
• A customizable project dashboard, with an overview of Google Cloudresources, billing, and a filterable activity listing.
• Easy access to all Google Cloud Platform APIs, with a dashboard specific to eachAPI, and access to manage your resources.
• Links to Google Cloud Platform starting points, news, and documentation.

Generate commands for the command-line tool

When you create a resource using the Google Cloud console, the consolegenerates the equivalent command for the gcloud CLI that wouldperform the same action. You can copy and paste the command into a terminaland use the command to create the same resource with the Google Cloud CLIinstead of the console. This can also be useful if you are unfamiliar with thegcloud CLI and want some example commands to start with. For example:

1. In the Google Cloud console, go to theVM instances page.

   Go to VM instances

2. ClickCreate instance.

3. Specify your desired parameters for the instance.

4. ClickEquivalent code and then click theCommand line tab to view thegcloud CLI command for creating the instance.

Generate REST requests

When you create a resource using the Google Cloud console,Compute Engine also shows the REST request that is used to create thisresource. This is a good way to view a sample REST request or to build your ownREST request using a graphical interface. To see an example of this:

1. In the Google Cloud console, go to theVM instances page.

   Go to VM instances

2. ClickCreate instance.

3. Specify your desired parameters for the instance.

4. ClickEquivalent code and then click theREST tab to view the RESTrequest details for creating the instance.

What's next

• Read the help documentation located at theGoogle Support page.