Create Virtual Instances #
Step 1 — Source Configuration #
- Select Contract — determines the pricing models available.
- Billing Mode — populated based on the selected contract.
- Select Image — Quick Start Images (predefined, ready to use) or Marketplace Images.
- Instance Name — provide a name for the instance.
- Select Flavor — CPU and memory specification.
- Availability Zone — where the instance will be deployed.
- Volume Type and Size — storage type (SSD/HDD) and size in GB.
Click Next to proceed.
Step 2 — Network and Security Configuration #
- Select Network (or click Create Network if none exist).
- Select Security Group (or click Create Security Group).
- Select Authentication method: Keypair, Password, or Inherit Password from Image.
- Optionally select a Server Group (or Create Server Group).
Click Next to continue.
Step 3 — Instance Configuration #
Optionally upload a script to run when the instance is created — useful for automating software installs, configuration, or setup tasks. Click Next.
Step 4 — Metadata #
Attach custom key-value pairs to the instance — useful for tagging, environment variables, or configuration details your applications may need. Click Next.
Step 5 — Review and Finalize #
Review the summary: Source and Image, Instance Name and Flavor, Storage (volume type/size), and Network and Security (network, security group, authentication). The Pricing Summary sidebar shows a cost breakdown.
Click Create to initiate provisioning. You’ll be notified once the instance is ready.
Edit Virtual Instances #
In QCloud, editing a virtual instance allows you to perform life-cycle management tasks and access specific configurations through the virtual instance dashboard (detail page). This section provides a detailed overview of all the available features and options for managing and customizing virtual instances. The details for both type of editing options are explained below:
Life-Cycle Management Actions #
- Start — boot up a stopped instance and make it available for use.
- Stop — shut down the running instance, releasing associated resources (vCPUs).
- Shelve / Unshelve — temporarily offload an instance without deleting it (saves state for future reuse), or restore it back to active.
- Pause / Unpause — freeze the instance’s activities and keep its state in memory, or resume exactly where it left off.
- Suspend / Resume — save the instance’s state to disk and halt operations, or bring it back online.
- Soft Reboot — gracefully restart the instance, allowing processes to close properly.
- Hard Reboot — forcefully restart without waiting for processes to shut down (like power-cycling).
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Virtual Instance Dashboard (Detail Page) #
- Overview tab — machine summary (name, flavor, status, availability zone); Elastic IP association (assign/release); Resizing (change Flavor — may require reboot).
- Volumes tab — list attached volumes; attach an existing volume; create and attach a new volume.
- Security Groups tab — view attached groups; add additional security groups.
- Networks tab — view existing network interfaces; create a new interface.
- Virtual Instance Logs — detailed system activity and event logs.
- Action Logs tab — history of all actions performed (lifecycle changes, resizing, network updates).
- Console tab — direct interface to the instance’s console, useful for troubleshooting.
- Monitoring tab — CPU, memory, and disk usage graphs with selectable timeframes (hourly, daily, yearly).
