Create cloud instances

This launches the Create Instance dialog where you can configure your instance details, specs and boot source.

Steps

1. 1
   Using the menu on the left, navigate to Compute > Instances.
2. 2
   Click on the Launch Instance button.
3. 3
   The Create Instance(s) dialog will appear.

Read through the sections below for step-by-step guides on each section.

The Details tab sets the core information for your instance. 

The Total Instances field on the right displays the number of instances that can be created (the project limit):

• The number of instances currently used.
• The number of instances to be added (the Count).
• The number of instances remaining.

Steps

1. 1
   In the Instance Name field provide a name for the new instance.

• Names are not unique identifiers; multiple instances may have the same name.
• Names longer than 63 characters are automatically truncated (to ensure dnsmasq works correctly).
• This becomes the initial host name of the instance.
• After the instance is created, if you change the host name directly, the name will not be updated in the cloud dashboard.

1. 2
   In the Description field specify what this instance will be used for.
2. 3
   Select the Availability Zone where you want to deploy this instance. The jnb1 zone will be selected by default.
3. 4
   In the Count field specify the number of instances you want to create.

The Flavors tab sets the compute (vCPU) and memory (RAM) allocation for the instance.

For example, for a small workload, you could select the flavor ‘s-g-1cpu-1gb’, which will provision 1 VCPU and 1GB of RAM. Take a look at the full list of available flavors. 

If you need to increase or decrease the instance specs, you can resize the instance and select a new flavor.

Each flavor has a different price (depending on the size), and is charged at a rate per hour. See more on the pricing in xneelo Cloud.

Steps

1. 1
   Scroll down to view the list of available flavors.
2. 2
   The flavor name, VCPUs and RAM will be displayed.
3. 3
   Click the > arrow button to view the impact on your quota.
4. 4
   Click Select on the flavor you want to use.

The Sources tab allows you to select a boot source as a template to create the instance.

Xneelo Cloud provides a set of pre-built public images that contain the operating system and software packages required to run applications. 

You can also select your own custom boot sources, which allow you to rapidly deploy new instances with the same data and configurations.

Custom boot sources include:

• Private image: This is a custom image that you have uploaded to your project.
• Instance snapshot: This uses a point-in-time copy of an instance to boot the new instance.
• Volume: This uses an existing volume that is set to ‘bootable’. An existing volume can only be used to launch one instance.
• Volume snapshot: This uses a point-in-time copy of a storage volume to boot the new instance.

A new boot volume must also be created for each instance to store instance data. By default, these are not deleted automatically when the instance is deleted.

Boot volumes are charged separately from the instance flavor. Learn more about volumes and pricing.

Steps

1. 1
   In the Select Boot Source field, select the boot source:

• Image (Default)
• Instance Snapshot
• Volume
• Volume Snapshot

1. 2
   If you selected Image (Default), you must select the image to use: Scroll down to view the list of available images. The image name, size and format will be displayed. Click Select on the image you want to use.
2. 3
   If you selected Image (Default) or Instance Snapshot, you must set the Boot Volume Size: This must be an integer and must be within the volume size limits. When the instance is created, the bootable volume will also be created.
3. 4
   Finally, check the Delete Volume on Instance Delete field on the right:

• If you select Delete, the boot volume will be deleted if the instance is deleted.
• If you select Don’t Delete, the boot volume will remain after the instance is deleted.

The Networks tab allows you to select the network, which will serve as the communication channel for the cloud instance.

Steps

1. 1
   The Public network will be selected by default.
2. 2
   A public IPV4 and IPV6 address will be assigned to this instance.

Note: Additional private networking features will be released in the future. See more on the Features available in xneelo Cloud.

The Key Pair tab allows you to select a key pair to connect to the instance later.

Key pairs (SSH keys) are used to secure and authenticate access to an instance. They are a combination of a public key (to encrypt data) and a private key (to decrypt data).

You can select an available SSH key, create a new key pair, or import a public key.

To select an available key pair:

1. 1
   Scroll down to view the list of available key pairs.
2. 2
   Click the > arrow button to view the public key.
3. 3
   Click Select on the key pair you want to use.

To create a new pair:

1. 1
   Select the + Create Key Pair button.
2. 2
   The Create Key Pair dialog will appear.
3. 3
   In the Key Pair Name field provide a recognisable name for the key pair. Names may only include alphanumeric characters, spaces, or dashes.
4. 4
   In the Key Type field select SSH Key.

Select the Create Key Pair button:

1. 1
   The private and public keys will then be generated.
2. 2
   The public key will be saved on the instance.
3. 3
   The private key will appear in the dialog, and you will need to save this key. Follow the steps to create a private key file.
4. 4
   Select the Done button to complete the action.

To create an import a public key:

1. 1
   Select the Import Public Key button.
2. 2
   The Import Key Pair dialog will appear.
3. 3
   In the Key Pair Name field provide a recognisable name for the key pair. Names may only include alphanumeric characters, spaces, or dashes.
4. 4
   In the Key Type field select SSH Key.
5. 5
   To upload a public key:

• Select the Choose File button.
• Select the file to upload.

1. 6
   To paste a public key:

• Select the Public Key field.
• Paste the contents of the public key file.

1. 7
   Select the Import Public Key button to complete the action.

The Security Groups tab lets you assign one or more security groups to your instance.

In xneelo Cloud you can create customised security groups with a set of rules that controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic. This improves the security of your cloud by managing access and communications to and from your instances.

See more on security groups in xneelo Cloud.

Steps

1. 1
   The ‘default’ security group will already be selected. If you want to remove this, click the Selected tick button.
2. 2
   You can also add other security groups you have created.

• Scroll down to view the list of available security groups.
• Click the > arrow button on a security group to view the security group rules (ingress and egress) that have been configured.

Once you have completed all the required fields on the Create Instance dialog, you should review your selections.

Once you are ready, you can proceed to create the instance. 

On creation, a unique Instance ID will be assigned to the instance.

Steps

1. 1
   The Create Instance button will enable.
2. 2
   Click on the Create Instance button to confirm the action.
3. 3
   You can now view and access the new instance in the Instances table.