Create a Google-configured instance optimized for your workload


You can use the Google Cloud console to get a Google-configured instance that isoptimized for your specific workload. This method of instance creation removesthe need for you to manually configure all of your instance properties. Googleprovides predefined, workload-optimized instance configurations for thefollowing workloads:

Workload type Best used for
Low cost Use this instance for non-production workloads
Web server Use this instance to host a basic website
Application server Use this instance to run an application
In-memory database Use this instance as a database or to perform analytics
OpenShift mode Use this instance to run an OpenShift cluster node
Windows Use this instance as a Windows server instance
SQL server Use this instance as a SQL server instance

Before you begin

Required roles

To get the permissions that you need to create instances, ask your administrator to grant you theCompute Instance Admin (v1) (roles/compute.instanceAdmin.v1) IAM role on the project. For more information about granting roles, seeManage access to projects, folders, and organizations.

You might also be able to get the required permissions throughcustom roles or otherpredefined roles.

Limitations

You can create Google-configured instances that are optimized for your workloadsonly by using the Google Cloud console.

Create a Google-configured instance optimized for your workload

When you're creating an instance by using the Google Cloud console, you can chooseto create a workload-optimized instance by selecting your workload type.Google then uses a preset configuration that is optimized for that workloadtype. You can further customize your instance configuration before you finishcreating the instance. If you wish to, you can also override any of thesepreset instance properties with values of your choice.

To create a Google-configured instance that is optimized for your workload,follow these steps:

  1. In the Google Cloud console, go to theCreate an instance page.

    Go to Create an instance

    If prompted, select your project and clickContinue. TheCreate an instance page appears and displays theMachine configuration pane.

  2. ClickCreate VM from....

  3. In the list that appears, select a preset configuration as follows:

    • If one of the workload types in thePresets section suits your usecase, select the preset configuration for that workload type. A windowappears for that preset configuration.

    • Otherwise, to select from the full list of available presetconfigurations, clickSee all presets.... Then, on thePreset VMspage that appears, select the preset configuration for the workload typethat suits your use case. A window appears for that preset configuration.

  4. Optional. To further customize your instance configuration or overrideany of the preset properties, do one of the following:

    • If you are on theCreate an instance page, clickApply preset andthen customize the instance configuration.

    • If you are on thePreset VMs page, clickCustomize and thencustomize the instance configuration.

    For more information, seeCreate and start an instance.

  5. To finish creating your instance, clickCreate orCreate now.

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Last updated 2025-07-11 UTC.