Suppose you want to create a virtual machine (VM) instance in the cloud. In that case, Google Compute Engine is an excellent option to consider.
With Compute Engine, you can create VM instances that run on Google’s infrastructure, giving you access to powerful hardware and fast network speeds.
In this article, we’ll walk you through creating a free Google Compute Engine instance step-by-step.
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What is Google Compute Engine?
Google Compute Engine is a cloud-based virtual machine (VM) hosting service. It’s part of the Google Cloud Platform (GCP), a suite of cloud-based tools and services designed for businesses and developers.
Compute Engine lets you create and run VM instances in the cloud, which can be used for various purposes, such as running applications, hosting websites, or machine learning models.
Creating a Free Google Compute Engine Instance
You’ll need a Google Cloud Platform account to create a free Google Compute Engine instance.
If you don’t already have one, you can sign up for a free trial account, giving you $300 in free credits to use on any Google Cloud Platform products and services.
Once you have a GCP account, follow these steps to create your free Compute Engine instance:
Step 1: Create a Project
When you first log in to the Google Cloud Console, you’ll be prompted to create a new project.
A project is a way to organize your resources in the cloud, and it’s required to make a Compute Engine instance.
Step 2: Enable the Compute Engine API
Before you can create a Compute Engine instance, you’ll need to enable the Compute Engine API for your project.
To do this, navigate to the APIs & Services section of the Google Cloud Console and search for “Compute Engine.” Then, click the “Enable” button to enable the API.
Step 3: Create a Compute Engine Instance
To create a Compute Engine instance, navigate to the Compute Engine section of the Google Cloud Console and click the “Create Instance” button.
From here, you can select the VM instance type you want to create, choose the operating system and software you want to install, and configure the instance’s networking settings.
Step 4: Start the Instance
Once you’ve created your Compute Engine instance, you can start by clicking the “Start” button in the Google Cloud Console.
This will launch your VM instance in the cloud, and you can connect to it using SSH or a remote desktop client.
Free Tier and Always-Free Program
Google Compute Engine offers a free program called the “Always-Free Tier,” which provides limited resources at no cost.
This program is ideal for developers who want to experiment with Compute Engine and learn how to use the platform without incurring fees.
The Always-Free Tier includes one f1-micro VM instance per month, 30 GB of HDD storage, and 5 GB of snapshot storage per month.
In addition to the Always-Free Tier, Google offers a free trial program that gives you $300 in free credits for any Google Cloud Platform products and services.
This program is ideal for businesses that want to try out Compute Engine and other Google Cloud Platform services without incurring costs.
Conclusion
Creating a free Google Compute Engine instance is a straightforward process that can be done in just a few steps.
With Compute Engine, you can create and run VM instances in the cloud, giving you access to powerful hardware and fast network speeds.
Compute Engine is an excellent option whether you’re a developer looking to experiment with the platform or a business looking to host your applications in the cloud. So why not give it a try for free today?
