Compute Engine lets you create and runinstances on Google infrastructure. This documentprovides an overview of the various configuration parameters that are availableto you during a Compute Engine instance creation. If you are creatingan instance for the first time, then this document provides a starting pointfor understanding the process.

The termsCompute Engine instance,compute instance orinstance are synonymous. Based on themachine typethat you specify, an instance can be either a bare metal instanceor a virtual machine (VM) instance, as follows:

• If the name of its machine type ends in-metal, an instance is abare metal instance, which does not have a hypervisor installed.
• Otherwise, an instance is a VM instance. The termsvirtual machine instance,VM instance, andVM are synonymous.

Synonymous terms are used interchangeablyacross the documentation and Google Cloud interfaces such as theGoogle Cloud console, thegcloud command-line tool,and theREST API.

Before you begin

• Review the basics aboutCompute Engine instances.
• If you haven't already, set upauthentication. Authentication verifies your identity 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

  1. Install the Google Cloud CLI. After installation,initialize the Google Cloud CLI 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.
  2. 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.

  Install the Google Cloud CLI. After installation,initialize the Google Cloud CLI 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.

  For more information, seeAuthenticate for using REST in the Google Cloud authentication documentation.

Ways to create and configure instances

You can create instances in multiple ways, each with its own method ofconfiguration, as follows:

• Create your instance by manually specifying a customconfiguration.Choose this option if you're creating an instance from the scratch and arefacing any of the following scenarios:

  • You know the specific configuration that is required for your workload.
  • You want to create an instance with a complicated configuration.
  • You want to create an instance by using the Google Cloud CLI orREST.

  If you choose this method, then also review the list of allconfiguration options available during instance creation.

• Create a workload-optimized instance.In this method, you select your workload type while creating your instanceand Google automatically populates a preset configuration that suits yourworkload. Choose this option if you're starting out withCompute Engine and don't know which configuration best suits yourintended workload. This option is available only in the Google Cloud console.

• Create your instance by using an instance template.An instance template is a resource that defines configuration settings forinstances. Choose this option if you have a defined configuration templateand want to create a lot of VMs with the same configuration.

• Create your instance by making copies of a machine image.A machine image contains most of the information and data needed for cloningan instance. Choose this option if you want to make multiple copies of anexisting source instance.

After you create your compute instance, Compute Engine automaticallystarts the instance.

Configuration options available during instance creation

When you create a Compute Engine instance, you specify the configuration thatyou want for your instance. Compute Engine uses this configuration to createyour instance. The following table lists the various parameters that youconfigure during Compute Engine instance creation:

What's next

• Learn how tocreate and start a Compute Engine instance.

• If you're creating an instance for the first time, then try one of thefollowing tutorials for a basic configuration:

  • Create a Linux VM instance in Compute Engine
  • Create a Windows Server VM instance in Compute Engine

• Learn aboutwhat happens to an instance after creation.