About instance settings Stay organized with collections Save and categorize content based on your preferences.
This page provides information about the settings available for Cloud SQLinstances.
Settings for Cloud SQL for SQL Server
Setting | Modifiable after creation? | Possible values |
---|---|---|
Instance ID | N | Composed of lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens; must start with a letter. The total length must be 98 characters or less. |
Region | N | For Cloud SQL Enterprise Plus edition:africa-south1 — Johannesburgasia-east1 — Taiwanasia-east2 — Hong Kongasia-northeast1 — Tokyoasia-northeast3 — Seoulasia-south1 — Mumbaiasia-southeast1 — Singaporeasia-southeast2 — Jakartaaustralia-southeast1 — Sydneyaustralia-southeast2 — Melbourneeurope-central2 — Warsaweurope-west1 — Belgiumeurope-west2 — Londoneurope-west3 — Frankfurteurope-west4 — Netherlandseurope-west6 — Züricheurope-west8 — Milaneurope-west9 — Pariseurope-west10 — Berlineurope-west12 — Turinme-central1 — Dohame-west1 — Tel Avivnorthamerica-northeast1 — Montréalnorthamerica-northeast2 — Torontosouthamerica-east1 — San Paulous-central1 — Iowaus-east1 — South Carolinaus-east4 — Northern Virginiaus-west1 — Oregonus-west2 — Los Angelesus-west3 — Salt Lake Cityus-west4 — Las VegasFor Cloud SQL Enterprise edition: africa-south1 — Johannesburgasia-east1 — Taiwanasia-east2 — Hong Kongasia-northeast1 — Tokyoasia-northeast2 — Osakaasia-northeast3 — Seoulasia-south1 — Mumbaiasia-south2 — Delhiasia-southeast1 — Singaporeasia-southeast2 — Jakartaaustralia-southeast1 — Sydneyaustralia-southeast2 — Melbourneeurope-central2 — Warsaweurope-north1 — Finlandeurope-north2 — Stockholmeurope-southwest1 — Madrideurope-west1 — Belgiumeurope-west2 — Londoneurope-west3 — Frankfurteurope-west4 — Netherlandseurope-west6 — Züricheurope-west8 — Milaneurope-west9 — Pariseurope-west10 — Berlineurope-west12 — Turinme-central1 — Dohame-central2 — Dammamme-west1 — Tel Avivnorthamerica-northeast1 — Montréalnorthamerica-northeast2 — Torontonorthamerica-south1 - Mexicosouthamerica-east1 — São Paulosouthamerica-west1 — Santiagous-central1 — Iowaus-east1 — South Carolinaus-east4 — Northern Virginiaus-east5 — Columbusus-south1 — Dallasus-west1 — Oregonus-west2 — Los Angelesus-west3 — Salt Lake Cityus-west4 — Las Vegas |
Zone | Y | The possible values depend on the region. |
Database version | N | For Cloud SQL Enterprise Plus edition:Console string API enum stringSQL Server 2019 Enterprise Console string API enum stringSQL Server 2017 Standard For resource limits of these versions, seeScale Limits. |
Active Directory domain | Y | A dropdown menu for joining a managed Active Directory domain is available. The menu lists any Managed Microsoft AD domains in your project. From the dropdown menu, you can select a domain. For more information, see Overview of Managed Microsoft AD in Cloud SQL. Additionally, note the procedures and constraints for integrating with a managed AD domain in a different project. |
SSL mode | Y | Enforces/enables SSL as follows:
requireSsl to a compatible value or unset to avoid the conflict between values of two settings. For more information, seeIpConfiguration. |
Server CA mode | N | Lets you configure the server certificate authority (CA) for an instance. You can select one of the following available server CA options:
For more information, seeCertificate authority (CA) hierarchies. |
Set edition | Y |
|
Private IP | After it's activated, it can't be deactivated. | Activated or deactivated. |
Public IP | Y | Activated or deactivated. |
Authorized networks | Y | If Public IP is enabled, IP addresses authorized to connect to the instance. You can also specify this value as an IP address range, in CIDR notation. |
Data cache | Y | Activated or deactivated. |
Cores | Y | For information about scale limits for cores, see Scale limits. |
Memory | Y | For information about scale limits for memory, see Scale limits. |
Disable simultaneous multithreading | Y | Configure threads per core for an instance from 2 to 1. To learn more about configuring simultaneous multithreading, see Simultaneous multithreading. |
Storage type | N | SSD (only value) |
Storage capacity | Y (Increase only) | Instances with at least one (unshared) vCPU can have up to 64 TB. Note that creating or increasing storage capacity to 64 TBmight increase latency of common operations, such asbackups, dependent on your workload. |
Enable automatic storage increases | Y | On (default value) Off |
Data encryption method | N | Google-owned and Google-managed encryption key (default value) Cloud KMS key |
Automatic storage increase limit | Y | In GBs. 0 (the default) means there is no limit. |
Backups | Y | On (default value) Off |
Locations options | Y | Multi-region (default value) Region There is also a drop-down menu with a list of multi-regions when you selectMulti-region or regions when you selectRegion. |
Instance deletion protection | Y | Activated or deactivated. |
Retain backups after instance deletion | Y | Activated or deactivated. |
Enable point-in-time recovery (PITR) | Y (seenote) | On Off The default value varies by instance. For more information, seeUse PITR. |
Availability: Single zone | Y | On (default value) Off |
High availability (regional) | Y | On Off (default value) |
Maintenance: Maintenance window | Y | Any (default value) Day of the week and hour of the day |
Maintenance: Maintenance timing | Y | Any (default value) Canary (alsoWeek 1 (wasEarlier) /Preview) Stable (alsoWeek 2 (wasLater) /Production) Week 5 |
Database flags | Y | SeeConfiguring Database Flags. |
Default collation | N | For a list of supported values, see sys.fn_helpcollations. |
SQL Server Audit | Y | Activated or deactivated. |
Time zone | Y | You can set the time zone when you create an instance or edit an instance. If you don't specify a time zone, the instance's time zone is UTC. |
- Instance ID
The instance ID is the name of the instance. It is used to uniquely identify your instance within the project. Choose an instance name that is aligned with the purpose of the instance when possible.
The total length of
You do not need to include the project ID in the instance name. This is done automatically whereappropriate (for example, in the log files).Important: You should be aware that some resource identifiers (such as project IDs) might be retained beyond the life of your project. For this reason, avoid storing sensitive information in resource identifiers....see naming guidelinesproject-ID:instance-ID
must be 98 characters or less.- Region
- The Google Cloud region where your instance is located. You can only set the region during instance creation. To improve performance, keep your data close to the services that need it. For more information, seeInstance Locations.
- Zone
- The Google Cloud zone where your instance is located. If you are connecting from a Compute Engine instance, select the zone where the Compute Engine instance is located. Otherwise, accept the default zone. You can edit the instance later to change the zone, if needed. For more information, seeInstance Locations.
- Cores
The number of CPUs for your instance.
- Memory
The amount of memory available for your instance. For performance-sensitive workloads such as online transaction processing (OLTP), make sure that your instance has enough memory to contain the entire working set. However, there are other factors that can impact memory requirements, such as number of active connections. Perform load testing to avoid performance issues in production.
- Database version
- Unless you need a capability provided only by a specific version, accept the default database version. For
gcloud
command and REST API usage, see the reference documentation. - Storage type
Storage type is determined by the machine type you selectfor your instance. Each machine type belongs to a specific machine series, andeach machine series offers different storage type options.
Storage type by machine series:
- N2 machine series: SSD
- Memory-optimized-N2: SSD
ChoosingSSD, the default value and only value, provides your instance with SSD storage. SSDs provide lower latency and higher data throughput.
- Active Directory domain
You canintegrate with Managed Microsoft AD, enabling Windows Authentication for the instance. To integrate, you choose a domain for the instance to join. For more information, see the Overview of Managed Microsoft AD in Cloud SQL.
- Server CA mode
(Optional) When you create an instance, you can select the server CA mode for the instance.
GOOGLE_MANAGED_INTERNAL_CA
: this is the default value. Cloud SQL creates a new self-signed server CA for each instance.GOOGLE_MANAGED_CAS_CA
: the instance uses a server CA hierarchy hosted by Certificate Authority Service and the issuing CAs are shared across all instances in the same region.CUSTOMER_MANAGED_CAS_CA
: the instance uses a server CA that you create from a CA pool. With this option, you manage the CA hierarchy and the rotation of CA certificates.
For more information about these options, seeCertificate authority (CA) hierarchies.
- Storage capacity
Choose a capacity to fit your database size. After you have created your instance, you can manually increase the storage capacity byediting your instance configuration, but you cannot decrease it. Increasing the storage capacity does not cause downtime.
The amount of storage capacity allocated for your instance affects the cost of your instance. For more information, seeStorage and Networking Pricing.
For read replicas, the storage capacity must always be at least as high as the storage capacity of the primary instance. When a primary instance is resized, all read replicas are resized, if needed, so that they have at least as much storage capacity as the updated primary instance.
Note:Setting your storage capacity too small without enablingautomatic storage increases can cause your instance to lose its SLA.Learn more
Cloud SQL may override theenable automatic storage increases andautomatic storage increase limit settings to perform critical database maintenance.- Enable automatic storage increases
If you enable this setting, Cloud SQL checks your available storage every 30 seconds. If the available storage falls below a threshold size, Cloud SQL automatically adds additional storage capacity. If the available storage repeatedly falls below the threshold size, Cloud SQL continues to add storage until it reaches the maximum of 64 TB.
Note: You can increase storage size, but you cannot decrease it; the storage increases are permanent for the life of the instance. When you enable this setting, a spike in storage requirements can permanently increase storage costs (incrementally) for your instance. If an instance runs out of available space, it can cause the instance to go offline, and the Cloud SQL SLA might not cover the outage.The automatic storage increase setting of a primary instance automatically applies to any read replicas of that instance. The automatic storage increase setting cannot be independently set for read replicas.
Note: When an instance is nearly out of storage capacity, it's automatically stopped to prevent the loss of information. Enabling this setting might prevent such an operation.Threshold
The threshold size depends on the amount of storage currently provisioned for your instance; it cannot be larger than 25 GB.
For instances provisioned with 500 GB of storage (or more), the threshold is always 25 GB.
For instances provisioned with less than 500 GB of storage, this formula is used to calculate the threshold:
5 + (provisioned storage)/25
The result of the division is rounded down to the nearest whole number.
Threshold calculation for an instance with 66 GB storage capacity:
Threshold calculation for an instance with 1000 GB storage capacity:5 + (1/25th of 66 GB) = 5 + (66/25) = 5 + 2.6 -> 5 + 2 = 7 GB
5 + (1/25th of 1000 GB) = 5 + (1000/25) = 5 + 40 = 45 -> rounded down to themaximum value of 25 GB
Amount of storage added
The amount of storage added to the instance is equal to the threshold size,which cannot be larger than 25 GB.
Considerations for large disks
For instances provisioned with storage of 500 GB or more, the threshold size is always 25 GB and the amount of storage added is always 25 GB. As a result, the maximum possible empty space is 50 GB. If you do not manually resize the instance with disk greater than 5 TB, the disk can remain at 99% capacity all the time even though the instance has empty space.
Before an operation that rapidly grows disk space usage, such as a large import or a query that requires a large temp table, manually resize the disk, rather than depend on automatic storage increase to keep up.
The file system uses some space internally for file system metadata. This space isn't included in the disk usage metric (
database/disk/bytes_used
). For large disks, the reserved space can take 1% to 3% of total disk size, so you might see the automatic storage increase occur before the disk usage reaches the threshold.- Data encryption method
By default, your Cloud SQL instance is encrypted with a Google-owned and managed key. If you want to control this key, then use a customer-managed encryption key (CMEK) in Cloud Key Management Service (KMS). Cloud KMS integrates with Cloud SQL.
Using Cloud KMS keys gives you control over their protection level, location, rotation schedule, usage and access permissions. In addition, you can use various encryption keys across resources. Using Cloud KMS also lets you track key usage, view audit logs, and control key life cycles.
Instead of Google owning and managing the keys that protect your data, you control and manage these keys in Cloud KMS.
For more information about CMEKs, seeAbout customer-managed encryption keys (CMEKs).
- Automatic storage increase limit
If you enable the automatic storage increase setting, you can provide a specific limit on how large the storage for your instance can automatically grow. Keep in mind that the bigger the size of the instance, the greater the operational latency.
You can't decrease storage size, so this limit can prevent your instance size from growing too large (due to a temporary increase in traffic). Keep in mind that when an instance becomes unable to add storage that it needs, the instance likely stops accepting incoming connections and could go offline.
Setting this limit to zero, the default value, means that there is no limit (other than the maximum available storage for the instance tier).
To set the limit when you create the instance, use the
--storage-auto-increase-limit=INTEGER_VALUE_OF_GB
parameter, as described on thecreate instance page. To set the limit on an existing instance, use the same parameter with thegcloud beta sql instances patch
command.The automatic storage increase limit setting of a primary instance automatically applies to any read replicas of that instance. The automatic storage increase limit setting cannot be independently set for read replicas.
- Automated backups and point-in-time recovery
These options determine if automated backups are performed and if transaction log backups are enabled. Both options add a small performance cost and use additional storage, but are required for the creation of replicas and clones, and for point-in-time recovery. When you select this option, you can also select a timeframe when automated backups occur.
Automated backups happen daily, during the time window you choose. At the end of seven days, the oldest backup is deleted.
For information about point-in-time recovery, see Overview of point-in-time recovery.
For information about replication, see Replication Options. For information about cloning instances, seeCloning Instances.
Note: Enabling or disabling point-in-time recovery causes the instance to be restarted. Existing database connections are closed and must be reopened.- Retention settings for automated backups
The default value for the number of retained backups is 7 but you can change it to any value in the range of 1 to 365.
See Automated backup and transaction log retention for more information.
- Location options
You can choose to store backups in multiple or single regions.Multi-region is the default, and the recommended choice because it provides protection against downtime when a region becomes unavailable. Backups are stored in regions that are closest to the instance.
You also have the option of selecting a custom location for your backup. Only use this option if required by regulation or if an organization policy requires your backups to be in specific multiple or single regions. SeeCustom locations for more information.
- Instance deletion protection
Protects an instance against accidental deletion. If this setting is enabled, you must deactivate it before deleting the instance. See Prevent deletion of an instance.
- Retain backups after instance deletion
Retains on-demand and automated backups for an instance after the instance is deleted. For more information about this setting, see Retained backups.
- Enable point-in-time recovery
Point-in-time recovery lets you recover from a backup, starting from a specific point in time.
For information about point-in-time recovery, seeOverview of point-in-time recovery.
- Availability: Zonal
Puts your instance and backups in a single zone. When you select this option, there is no failover in the event of an outage. Recommended only for test and development purposes.
- High availability (regional)
When you selectHigh availability (regional), if there is an outage, your instance fails over to another zone in the region where your instance is located, as long as the failover zone is not having an outage. It is recommended that you selectHigh availability (regional) for instances in your production environment.
- Maintenance window
The day and hour that your maintenance events for the Cloud SQL instance are scheduled.
Read replicas do not support maintenance window settings at this time.
For more information about maintenance, seeAbout maintenance on Cloud SQL instances.
- Maintenance timing
Your preference about the relative timing of maintenance updates. You can receive your updates one or two weeks after the notification and test your maintenance updates in a test environment before your production instances get the update. You can also choose to receive the maintenance update five weeks ("
week5
") after the notification is sent out. The maintenance timing setting doesn't affect the maintenance version that Cloud SQL applies to your instance.If you don't set the maintenance timing setting, Cloud SQL chooses the timing of updates to your instance (within its maintenance window, if applicable).
For more information about maintenance, seeAbout maintenance on Cloud SQL instances.
- Private IP
- Configures your instance to use private IP.Learn more.
- Public IP
- If enabled, your instance is allocated a public IPv4 address. When you deactivate Public IP, that address is released; you can reenable Public IP later, but you receive a different IPv4 address. By default, the public IP address is blocked for all addresses. UseAuthorized networks to enable access.
- Authorized networks
- You can add specific IP addresses or ranges of addresses to open your instance to those addresses.
For information about configuring IP addresses, seeConfiguring IP connectivity.
- Data cache
Data cache is optional for Cloud SQL Enterprise Plus edition instances. Data cache utilizes local SSDs to extend the OS page cache from memory to the SSD tier. Cloud SQL manages this setting. Caching your entire working set provides maximum performance when using data cache. You can use the Google Cloud console,gcloud CLI, or Cloud SQL Admin API to turn this setting on or off for your Cloud SQL Enterprise Plus edition instances.
The following table shows the Data cache size for the various vCPU configurations. The Data cache size is fixed and is not configurable.
Performance-optimized machine family
Memory-optimized machine familyEnterprise plus machine type vCPUs Memory (GB) Data cache (GB) db-perf-optimized-N-2 2 16 375 db-perf-optimized-N-4 4 32 375 db-perf-optimized-N-8 8 64 375 db-perf-optimized-N-16 16 128 750 db-perf-optimized-N-32 32 256 1500 db-perf-optimized-N-48 48 384 3000 db-perf-optimized-N-64 64 512 6000 db-perf-optimized-N-80 80 640 6000 db-perf-optimized-N-96 96 768 6000 db-perf-optimized-N-128 128 864 9000 Machine type vCPUs Memory (GB) Data cache (GB) db-memory-optimized-N-4 4 128 750 db-memory-optimized-N-8 8 256 1500 db-memory-optimized-N-16 16 512 3000 - Activation policy
- You change the activation policy bystarting and stopping the instance. Stopping the instance prevents further instance charges.
- Database flags
You can set specific database flags on the Cloud SQL instance.
For a complete list of the database flags you can set, seeConfigure Database Flags.
- Default collation
You can set a default collation value for the instance, as described on the Creating instances page. This collation setting is an instance-level default for sorting rules, case, and accent sensitivity in the instance databases.
This collation setting becomes the default for the system databases, too.
A collation setting of an instance or database is indicated in the Google Cloud console. You can verify an instance's default collation on the Instance Overview page (available through theCloud SQL Instances page). Additionally, from the Instance Overview page, in the Navigation menu, you can clickDatabases to verify a specific database's collation setting.
This collation default is permanent at the instance level but not at the database level. You can change this default with a database administration tool, but only for a specific database that you are creating or updating. You cannot change the collation default for an instance after creating the instance (unless you recreate the instance).
If you clone an instance, the default collation carries over to the clone.
For a complete list of the supported collation settings, see Server-level collations.
- SQL Server Audit
This setting determines if database auditing is enabled. For more information, see SQL Server database auditing.
- Time zone
When you create an instance, you can set a time zone for the instance by using the
--time-zone=WINDOWS_TIME_ZONE
parameter. The time zone for the instance can also be set or changed later byupdating the settings of the instance using the--time-zone=WINDOWS_TIME_ZONE
parameter. If a time zone is not specified for the instance, the instance's time zone is UTC.A read replica has the same time zone as its primary instance.
A clone has the same time zone as its source instance.
When you restore an instance from a backup, the source instance's time zone setting is applied to the restored instance; the time zone assigned to the backup isn't applied.
Note:Updating the time zone for your instance can cause inconsistencies in your data.For the available time zone values, see theWindows time zone column, under Time zone mapping.
Alternatively, you can get the available values by using this query:
SELECT * FROM sys.time_zone_info;
An example of a function for retrieving an instance's time zone is the following: SYSDATETIMEOFFSET. The
Warning: Using an unsupported time zone may cause SQL Server to report incorrect times andUTC offsets.Warning: SQL Server 2017 and SQL Server 2019 are now inextended support, and any time zone issues encountered with these versions might not be addressed. For better time zone support, use SQL Server 2022 or later.AT TIME ZONE
function can be helpful for time conversions and more. For information about this function, see AT TIME ZONE (Transact-SQL).Note: Changing the time zone used by the instance causes the instance to be restarted. Existing database connections are closed and must be reopened.The following time zones are unsupported for SQL Server 2017:
- Alaskan Standard Time
- Argentina Standard Time
- Atlantic Standard Time
- AUS Eastern Standard Time
- Cen. Australia Standard Time
- Central Standard Time
- Central Standard Time (Mexico)
- E. South America Standard Time
- Easter Island Standard Time
- Eastern Standard Time
- Egypt Standard Time
- Iran Standard Time
- Jordan Standard Time
- Libya Standard Time
- Magadan Standard Time
- Mountain Standard Time
- Morocco Standard Time
- N. Central Asia Standard Time
- Namibia Standard Time
- Norfolk Standard Time
- North Korea Standard Time
- Pacific Standard Time
- Pacific SA Standard Time
- Saratov Standard Time
- South Sudan Standard Time
- Tasmania Standard Time
- Tomsk Standard Time
- Turkey Standard Time
- Venezuela Standard Time
- W. Australia Standard Time
The following time zones are unsupported for all major versions, and may cause SQL Server to report incorrect times and UTC offsets if used:
- Ekaterinburg Standard Time
- Kaliningrad Standard Time
- Kamchatka Standard Time
- Magallanes Standard Time
- Mid-Atlantic Standard Time
- North Asia East Standard Time
- North Asia Standard Time
- Pakistan Standard Time
- Paraguay Standard Time
- Qyzylorda Standard Time
- Russian Standard Time
- Sudan Standard Time
- Vladivostok Standard Time
- Volgograd Standard Time
- West Bank Standard Time
- Yakutsk Standard Time
Impact of changing instance settings
For most instance settings, Cloud SQL applies the change immediately andconnectivity to the instance is unaffected.
Changing the number of CPUs or the memory size results in the instance goingoffline for less than 60 seconds. Changing an instance's zone, configuring theprivate IP, changing its network, and enabling high availability results in theinstance going offline for several minutes. Plan to make these kinds of changeswhen your service can handle an outage of this duration.
What's next
- Learn how toedit your instance.
- Learn more aboutdatabase flags.
- Learn how toauthorize IP access for yourinstance.
- Learn more aboutreplication options.
- Seepricing for your instance.
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Last updated 2025-07-18 UTC.