Create a Google-configured instance optimized for your workload Stay organized with collections Save and categorize content based on your preferences.
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
- If you haven't already, then set up authentication.Authentication is the process by which your identity is verified for access to Google Cloud services and APIs. To run code or samples from a local development environment, you can authenticate to Compute Engine by selecting one of the following options:
Select the tab for how you plan to use the samples on this page:
Console
When you use the Google Cloud console to access Google Cloud services and APIs, you don't need to set up authentication.
gcloud
Afterinstalling the Google Cloud CLI,initialize it by running the following command:
gcloudinit
If you're using an external identity provider (IdP), you must first sign in to the gcloud CLI with your federated identity.
Note: If you installed the gcloud CLI previously, make sure you have the latest version by runninggcloud components update
.- Set a default region and zone.
REST
To use the REST API samples on this page in a local development environment, you use the credentials you provide to the gcloud CLI.
Afterinstalling the Google Cloud CLI,initialize it by running the following command:
gcloudinit
If you're using an external identity provider (IdP), you must first sign in to the gcloud CLI with your federated identity.
For more information, seeAuthenticate for using REST in the Google Cloud authentication documentation.
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:
In the Google Cloud console, go to theCreate an instance page.
If prompted, select your project and clickContinue. TheCreate an instance page appears and displays theMachine configuration pane.
Click
Create VM from....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.
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.
To finish creating your instance, clickCreate orCreate now.
Except as otherwise noted, the content of this page is licensed under theCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 License, and code samples are licensed under theApache 2.0 License. For details, see theGoogle Developers Site Policies. Java is a registered trademark of Oracle and/or its affiliates.
Last updated 2025-07-11 UTC.