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Create a private cloud by using VMware Engine
This quickstart explains how to set up Google Cloud VMware Engine and create a standard
private cloud.
Before you begin
To perform the steps in this quickstart, you need access to Google Cloud VMware Engine,
available VMware Engine node quota, and an appropriate IAM role.
Prepare the following requirements before you proceed:
Verify that you're familiar with the address ranges you want to use for
VMware management appliances and the HCX deployment network. For details, see
Networking requirements.
Click Select a project and then select the organization, folder, or project where
you want to create the private cloud.
Click Create.
Enter a name for the private cloud.
Select Standard private cloud for the private cloud type.
Select the location where you want the private cloud deployed.
Enter a name for the primary cluster.
Select the node type for your primary cluster.
Select the number of nodes for the private cloud. For production workloads,
create your private cloud with at least 3 nodes. VMware Engine
deletes private clouds that contain only 1 node after 60 days.
Optional: Click the Customize Node Cores toggle if you want to reduce the
number of available cores for each node in the management cluster. For
details, see Custom core counts.
Enter a CIDR range for the VMware management network. Make sure that the CIDR
range doesn't overlap with any of your on-premises or cloud subnets.
Select Create new network to create a new VMware Engine network or select
from an existing network, if applicable.
Click Create to begin creating the private cloud.
As VMware Engine creates your new private cloud, it deploys a number
of VMware components and divides the provided IP
address range into subnets. Private cloud creation can take 30 minutes to
2 hours. After the provisioning is complete, you receive an email.
Connect to your private cloud
To connect to your private cloud vCenter server, establish a secure connection
from your network to the private cloud. You can use any of the following options
to create a secure connection:
[[["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 2025-08-28 UTC."],[],[],null,["# Quickstart: Create a private cloud by using VMware Engine\n\nCreate a private cloud by using VMware Engine\n=============================================\n\nThis quickstart explains how to set up Google Cloud VMware Engine and create a standard\n[private cloud](/vmware-engine/docs/concepts-private-cloud).\n\nBefore you begin\n----------------\n\nTo perform the steps in this quickstart, you need access to Google Cloud VMware Engine,\navailable VMware Engine node quota, and an appropriate IAM role.\nPrepare the following requirements before you proceed:\n\n1. [Request API access and node quota](/vmware-engine/docs/quickstart-prerequisites).\n2. Verify that you're familiar with the address ranges you want to use for VMware management appliances and the HCX deployment network. For details, see [Networking requirements](/vmware-engine/docs/quickstart-networking-requirements).\n3. Have the `VMware Engine Service Admin` IAM role.\n\n| **Note:** The **Owner** and **Editor** basic roles include the **VMware Engine\n| Service Admin** role. The **Viewer** basic role includes the **VMware\n| Engine Service Viewer** role.\n\nFor more information, see\n[VMware Engine IAM roles and permissions](/vmware-engine/docs/iam).\n\nCreate a standard private cloud\n-------------------------------\n\n1. In the Google Cloud console, go to the **Private clouds** page.\n\n [Go to Private clouds](https://console.cloud.google.com/vmwareengine/privateclouds)\n2. Click **Select a project** and then select the organization, folder, or project where\n you want to create the private cloud.\n\n3. Click **Create**.\n\n4. Enter a name for the private cloud.\n\n5. Select **Standard private cloud** for the private cloud type.\n\n6. Select the location where you want the private cloud deployed.\n\n7. Enter a name for the primary cluster.\n\n8. Select the node type for your primary cluster.\n\n9. Select the number of nodes for the private cloud. For production workloads,\n create your private cloud with at least 3 nodes. VMware Engine\n deletes private clouds that contain only 1 node after 60 days.\n\n10. Optional: Click the **Customize Node Cores** toggle if you want to reduce the\n number of available cores for each node in the management cluster. For\n details, see [Custom core counts](/vmware-engine/docs/concepts-private-cloud#custom-core-count).\n\n11. Enter a CIDR range for the VMware management network. Make sure that the CIDR\n range doesn't overlap with any of your on-premises or cloud subnets.\n\n12. Select **Create new network** to create a new VMware Engine network or select\n from an existing network, if applicable.\n\n13. Click **Create** to begin creating the private cloud.\n\nAs VMware Engine creates your new private cloud, it deploys a number\nof [VMware components](/vmware-engine/docs/concepts-vmware-components) and divides the provided IP\naddress range into subnets. Private cloud creation can take 30 minutes to\n2 hours. After the provisioning is complete, you receive an email.\n\nConnect to your private cloud\n-----------------------------\n\nTo connect to your private cloud vCenter server, establish a secure connection\nfrom your network to the private cloud. You can use any of the following options\nto create a secure connection:\n\n- [Connect an on-premises network to VMware Engine private cloud](/vmware-engine/docs/networking/howto-connect-to-onpremises).\n- [Connect using a point-to-site VPN connection](/vmware-engine/docs/concepts-vpn-gateways).\n\nWhat's next\n-----------\n\n- [Get management appliance sign-in credentials](/vmware-engine/docs/vmware-platform/howto-access-vsphere-client) for your private cloud.\n- [Configure internet access for workload VMs](/vmware-engine/docs/networking/workload-internet-access) for your private cloud."]]