View the source image of a VM
You create a virtual machine (VM) instance from either anOSimage or a disk image. This documentshows you how to determine the source OS image or source disk image of a VM.
Before you begin
- 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
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.- 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.
View the source OS image or source disk image of a VM
To view the source OS image or source disk image of a VM, use theGoogle Cloud console, Google Cloud CLI, or Compute Engine API.
Permissions required for this task
To perform this task, you must have the followingpermissions:
compute.instances.geton the instance
Console
In the Google Cloud console, go to theVM instances page.
Click theName of the VM.
The name of the source OS image or source disk image is inStorage > Bootdisk > Image.
gcloud
View the disks attached to a VM by using the following
gcloud computeinstances describecommand:gcloud compute instances describeVM_NAME
Replace
VM_NAMEwith the name of the VM.View the source OS image or source disk image of the disk by using thefollowing
gcloud compute disks describecommand:gcloud compute disks describeDISK_NAME \ --zone=ZONE \ --format="get(SOURCE)"
Replace the following:
DISK_NAME: the name of the disk to view thesource of.ZONE: the zone that the disk is located in.SOURCE: a value that specifies whether toreturn the source OS image or the source disk image. Set tosourceDiskor tosourceImage. No value is returned when specifyingsourceDiskorsourceImageunless there is a corresponding source OS image or asource disk image. If no value is returned, specify the other value andrun the command again.
REST
View the disks attached to a VM by using the following
instances.getmethod:GET https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/ZONE/instances/VM_NAME
Replace the following:
PROJECT_ID: the project IDZONE: the zone containing the VMVM_NAME: the name of the VM
View the source OS image or source disk image of the disk by using the
disks.getmethod.For a VM that has a source OS image, this method returns the source imagethat was used to create the disk in the
sourceImagefield. For a VMthat has a source disk image, this method instead returns the sourceimage in thesourceDiskfield.GET https://compute.googleapis.com/compute/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/zones/ZONE/disks/DISK_NAME
Replace the following:
PROJECT_ID: the project IDZONE: the zone containing the diskDISK_NAME: the name of the disk
What's next
- Learn more aboutOS images on Compute Engine.
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Last updated 2026-02-19 UTC.