Create a Google-configured instance optimized for your workload
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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, set up authentication.
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:
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:
In the Google Cloud console, go to the Create an instance page.
If prompted, select your project and click Continue. The
Create an instance page appears and displays the
Machine configuration pane.
Click auto_awesomeCreate VM from....
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.
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.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Hard to understand","hardToUnderstand","thumb-down"],["Incorrect information or sample code","incorrectInformationOrSampleCode","thumb-down"],["Missing the information/samples I need","missingTheInformationSamplesINeed","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-08-26 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eGoogle Cloud Console offers pre-configured instances optimized for specific workloads, eliminating the need for manual configuration.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eWorkload-optimized instance types include options like low cost, web server, application server, in-memory database, OpenShift mode, Windows, and SQL server.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eTo create a workload-optimized instance, users must select a preset configuration within the Google Cloud Console, which then automatically applies settings suited for that workload.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eUsers can customize preset configurations further or override them with their preferred settings after selecting a preset for their workload type.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eTo get the needed permissions to create these instances, users need to ask their administrator to grant them the Compute Instance Admin (v1) role on the project.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# Create a Google-configured instance optimized for your workload\n\n*** ** * ** ***\n\nYou 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:\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nBefore you begin\n----------------\n\n- If you haven't already, set up [authentication](/compute/docs/authentication). 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:\n\n Select the tab for how you plan to use the samples on this page: \n\n ### Console\n\n\n When you use the Google Cloud console to access Google Cloud services and\n APIs, you don't need to set up authentication.\n\n ### gcloud\n\n 1.\n [Install](/sdk/docs/install) the Google Cloud CLI.\n\n After installation,\n [initialize](/sdk/docs/initializing) the Google Cloud CLI by running the following command:\n\n ```bash\n gcloud init\n ```\n\n\n If you're using an external identity provider (IdP), you must first\n [sign in to the gcloud CLI with your federated identity](/iam/docs/workforce-log-in-gcloud).\n | **Note:** If you installed the gcloud CLI previously, make sure you have the latest version by running `gcloud components update`.\n 2. [Set a default region and zone](/compute/docs/gcloud-compute#set_default_zone_and_region_in_your_local_client).\n\n ### REST\n\n\n To use the REST API samples on this page in a local development environment, you use the\n credentials you provide to the gcloud CLI.\n 1. [Install](/sdk/docs/install) the Google Cloud CLI. After installation, [initialize](/sdk/docs/initializing) the Google Cloud CLI by running the following command: \n\n ```bash\n gcloud init\n ```\n 2. If you're using an external identity provider (IdP), you must first [sign in to the gcloud CLI with your federated identity](/iam/docs/workforce-log-in-gcloud).\n\n\n For more information, see\n [Authenticate for using REST](/docs/authentication/rest)\n in the Google Cloud authentication documentation.\n\n### Required roles\n\n\nTo get the permissions that\nyou need to create instances,\n\nask your administrator to grant you the\n\n\n[Compute Instance Admin (v1)](/iam/docs/roles-permissions/compute#compute.instanceAdmin.v1) (`roles/compute.instanceAdmin.v1`)\nIAM role on the project.\n\n\nFor more information about granting roles, see [Manage access to projects, folders, and organizations](/iam/docs/granting-changing-revoking-access).\n\n\nYou might also be able to get\nthe required permissions through [custom\nroles](/iam/docs/creating-custom-roles) or other [predefined\nroles](/iam/docs/roles-overview#predefined).\n\nLimitations\n-----------\n\nYou can create Google-configured instances that are optimized for your workloads\nonly by using the Google Cloud console.\n\nCreate a Google-configured instance optimized for your workload\n---------------------------------------------------------------\n\nWhen you're creating an instance by using the Google Cloud console, you can choose\nto create a workload-optimized instance by selecting your workload type.\nGoogle then uses a preset configuration that is optimized for that workload\ntype. You can further customize your instance configuration before you finish\ncreating the instance. If you wish to, you can also override any of these\npreset instance properties with values of your choice.\n\nTo create a Google-configured instance that is optimized for your workload,\nfollow these steps:\n\n1. In the Google Cloud console, go to the **Create an instance** page.\n\n [Go to Create an instance](https://console.cloud.google.com/compute/instancesAdd)\n\n If prompted, select your project and click **Continue** . The\n **Create an instance** page appears and displays the\n **Machine configuration** pane.\n2. Click auto_awesome\n **Create VM from...**.\n\n3. In the list that appears, select a preset configuration as follows:\n\n - If one of the workload types in the **Presets** section suits your use\n case, select the preset configuration for that workload type. A window\n appears for that preset configuration.\n\n - Otherwise, to select from the full list of available preset\n configurations, click **See all presets...** . Then, on the **Preset VMs**\n page that appears, select the preset configuration for the workload type\n that suits your use case. A window appears for that preset configuration.\n\n4. Optional. To further customize your instance configuration or override\n any of the preset properties, do one of the following:\n\n - If you are on the **Create an instance** page, click **Apply preset** and\n then customize the instance configuration.\n\n - If you are on the **Preset VMs** page, click **Customize** and then\n customize the instance configuration.\n\n For more information, see\n [Create and start an instance](/compute/docs/instances/create-start-instance).\n\n \u003cbr /\u003e\n\n5. To finish creating your instance, click **Create** or **Create now**."]]
