Create a Google-configured instance optimized for your workload

You can use the Google Cloud console to get a Google-configured instance that is optimized for your specific workload. This method of instance creation removes the need for you to manually configure all of your instance properties. Google provides predefined, workload-optimized instance configurations for the following 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

    1. Install the Google Cloud CLI. After installation, initialize the Google Cloud CLI by running the following command: 

      gcloud init

      If you're using an external identity provider (IdP), you must first sign in to the gcloud CLI with your federated identity.

    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: 

      gcloud init

      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, see Authenticate 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 the Compute Instance Admin (v1) (roles/compute.instanceAdmin.v1) IAM role on the project. For more information about granting roles, see Manage access to projects, folders, and organizations.

You might also be able to get the required permissions through custom roles or other predefined roles.

Limitations

You can create Google-configured instances that are optimized for your workloads only 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 choose to create a workload-optimized instance by selecting your workload type. Google then uses a preset configuration that is optimized for that workload type. You can further customize your instance configuration before you finish creating the instance. If you wish to, you can also override any of these preset 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 the Create an instance page.

    Go to Create an instance

    If prompted, select your project and click Continue. The Create an instance page appears and displays the Machine configuration pane.

  2. Click Create VM from....

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

    • If one of the workload types in the Presets section suits your use case, select the preset configuration for that workload type. A window appears for that preset configuration.

    • Otherwise, to select from the full list of available preset configurations, click See all presets.... Then, on the Preset VMs page that appears, select the preset configuration for the workload type that suits your use case. A window appears for that preset configuration.

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

    • If you are on the Create an instance page, click Apply preset and then customize the instance configuration.

    • If you are on the Preset VMs page, click Customize and then customize the instance configuration.

    For more information, see Create and start an instance.

  5. To finish creating your instance, click Create or Create now.