Instances

Use an instance for a long-running service, a custom application stack, or a database you manage yourself.

Instance creation is in early access. If Create instance is unavailable, your account does not have access yet; contact support.

Create an instance

1. Open Compute → Instances and choose Create instance.
2. Enter a name. Names use lowercase letters, digits, and hyphens.
3. Choose an operating system and a size.
4. Optionally select available volumes to attach as data disks.
5. Choose an SSH key. Add one under Key management first if the list is empty.
6. Optionally reserve a public IP. You can also add one later.
7. Choose Create instance.

The instance becomes Running when it is ready; the first start can take a few minutes. The boot disk is included with the size you choose.

Sizes and billing

Size	vCPU	Memory	Boot disk	Monthly
Micro	1	1 GB	10 GB	$5.00
Small	2	2 GB	20 GB	$10.00
Medium	4	4 GB	40 GB	$20.00

Prices are shown in your display currency on the create page. Running time is billed hourly from your account balance. A stopped instance does not accrue compute time. Volumes, snapshots, public IPs, and outbound traffic are billed separately.

Start, stop, and delete

Status	Meaning
Creating	The instance is being prepared. Wait for it to become Running.
Running	The instance is on and can be reached.
Stopped	The instance is off and does not accrue compute time.
Error	Something needs attention. The instance page shows the reason.
Deleting	The instance is being removed. This cannot be undone.

Use Start, Stop, and Reboot from the instance page. Delete removes the instance, its boot disk, and its snapshots. Data volumes are detached and stay available, and keep billing, so you can attach them to another instance. A bound public IP is released from the instance and stays reserved and billed.

Connect

Open the Shell tab and choose Connect using SSH to open a terminal in your browser. The session runs as the default user for the image.

To connect from your own terminal, copy the SSH command from the Networking tab and use the private key for the SSH key you chose when the instance was created. If the instance has only a private address, use the browser shell. Use Key management to download a generated private key or to import a key you already use.

Networking

The Networking tab shows the private address, IPv6 address when one is assigned, hostname, public IP, and an SSH command. It also lists each network interface with its addresses, MAC address, and traffic counters. Use Manage beside the firewall row to open the firewall rules.

Firewall

Firewall rules control traffic to and from the instance. Add a rule with a direction, an action, a protocol, an optional port or port range, an optional source address or network, and a comment.

• Inbound rules control traffic arriving at the instance; outbound rules control traffic leaving it.
• Accept allows the traffic, Drop silently discards it, and Reject refuses it.
• Leave the port empty to match any port. Use a range such as 8000:9000 when the service listens on several ports.
• Leave the source empty to match any address, or enter a network such as 203.0.113.0/24.

Allow the ports your service needs before you connect. The default SSH and ICMP rules are managed for you and cannot be deleted.

Disks

Every instance has a boot disk included with its size. The boot disk is removed with the instance. Extra volumes are data disks: select available volumes while creating an instance, or attach one later from the Disks tab while the instance is stopped. Detach a data volume the same way. Data on the volume stays in place and billing continues while the volume exists.

See Volumes for creating, attaching, and deleting extra storage.

Metrics

The Metrics tab charts processor use, memory and swap, disk reads and writes, and network traffic for 24 hours, 7 days, or 30 days. Charts appear after the instance has been running long enough to record a sample.

Snapshots

Open the Snapshots tab to save the instance's current disk state. Give the snapshot a name and an optional description. You can create one while the instance is running or stopped.

• Roll back restores the instance to the snapshot and replaces the current disk state. Changes made after the snapshot are lost.
• Delete removes the snapshot and stops its charge.

Snapshots are billed per GB-hour while they exist. The tab shows the current monthly estimate for a full snapshot. Deleting an instance also deletes its snapshots.

SSH keys

Open Key management in the Cloud sidebar to manage the keys you use for instances. Add a key in one of two ways:

• Create a new key. AnythingCloud generates an Ed25519 key pair. Download the private key after it is created and keep it safe; anyone with it can connect to instances that use the key.
• Use an existing key. Paste the public key from a .pub file. Ed25519, ECDSA, and RSA keys are supported.

The default key is selected for new instances. Open a key to copy its fingerprint or public key, rename it, make it the default, download a generated private key, or delete it. Deleting a key does not remove access from instances that already use it. The current key limit and a request form are under Settings → Limits.

Limits

The number of instances and volumes, and the total volume storage, are shown under Settings → Limits → Compute limits. Choose Manage limit, enter the limits you need and a short reason, then submit the request. An approved request replaces the current limits for your account.