Exploring Block and File Storage in GCP V2 | Scribe

    Exploring Block and File Storage in GCP V2

    • Hafeez Baig |
    • 28 steps |
    • 4 minutes
    1
    Sign in into the **Google Cloud Platform**
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    Type "**VM instances**" in the search bar and click on the **VM instances** option
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    **What are VM instances?**\ \ VM instances (Virtual Machine instances) are virtualized computing environments that run on physical hardware in a cloud provider's data center. They act like independent servers, allowing you to run operating systems and applications. You can configure, start, stop, and manage VM instances to suit your computing needs.
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    **VM instances** wizard will open, click on the **CREATE INSTANCES** button
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    Scroll to the **Advanced options** section and click on the dropdown button
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    Scroll to the **Disks** section and click on the dropdown button
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    **What are Disks?**\ \ Disks, in the context of cloud computing and virtual machines, are virtual storage devices used to store data. They can be attached to VM instances to provide persistent storage for operating systems, applications, and data. These disks can be of different types, such as standard persistent disks, SSD persistent disks, or local SSDs, each offering varying levels of performance and cost.
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    Click on the **ADD NEW DISK** button
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    **What is ADD NEW DISK option?**\ \ The **ADD NEW DISK** option allows you to attach an additional virtual disk to your VM instance. This new disk can be used for extra storage, separate from the boot disk, and can be configured with specific size, type (e.g., standard, SSD), and performance characteristics. It provides flexibility in managing storage requirements for different workloads.
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    **Add new disk** wizard will open, here you can give the Disk Name
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    Scroll to the **Disk source type** dropdown section, here you can select the source type
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    **What is the Blank disk source type?**\ \ **Blank disk source type** allows you to create a new, empty disk with no pre-existing data. This is useful when you need a fresh storage volume that you can format and use as needed for your applications or data.\ \ **\ What is the Image disk source type?**\ \ **Image disk source type** allows you to create a new disk from an existing disk image. Disk images contain a snapshot of a complete system, including the operating system and any pre-installed software, making it ideal for creating VM instances with predefined configurations.\ \ \ **What is the Snapshot disk source type?**\ \ Snapshot disk source type allows you to create a new disk from a previously taken snapshot. A snapshot is a point-in-time copy of a disk, and using it as a source allows you to restore or duplicate the state of the disk as it was when the snapshot was taken.\ \ \ **What is the Instant snapshot disk source type?**\ \ **Instant snapshot disk source type** is similar to a regular snapshot but is designed to be created quickly with minimal impact on the system's performance. It provides a fast way to create a disk from a very recent snapshot of another disk.\ \ \ **What is the Archive disk source type?**\ \ **Archive disk source type** is used to create a new disk from data stored in long-term, low-cost archival storage. This is useful for retrieving and restoring data that was previously archived, usually for backup or compliance purposes, but it might have slower access times compared to standard disks.
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    Scroll to the **Disk type** dropdown section, here you can select the Disk type
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    **What is a Balanced persistent disk?**\ \ **Balanced persistent disk** offers a good balance between cost and performance. It is designed for general-purpose workloads that require moderate performance, making it suitable for a wide range of applications that don’t need the highest levels of IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) but still require reliable and consistent performance.\ \ **\ What is the Extreme persistent disk?**\ \ **Extreme persistent disk** is designed for high-performance workloads that require the highest levels of IOPS and throughput. It is ideal for applications like large databases or high-performance computing (HPC) tasks that demand very low latency and extreme disk performance.**\ \ What is the SSD persistent disk?**\ \ **SSD persistent disk** is a type of storage that uses solid-state drives (SSDs) to offer high IOPS and low latency. It's optimized for workloads that require fast access to data, such as databases, analytics, and other I/O-intensive applications.\ \ **\ What is the Standard persistent disk?**\ \ **Standard persistent disk** uses hard disk drives (HDDs) and is designed for workloads where high IOPS and low latency are not critical. It is cost-effective and well-suited for applications with sequential data access patterns or infrequent access, like backups, logs, or archival storage.
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    Scroll to the **Size** section, here you can set the Disk size
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    Congratulations on exploring the VM NEW DISK configurations!
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    Scroll to the **Disks** dropdown section and click on the **ATTACH EXISTING DISK**
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    **What is ATTACH EXISTING DISK option?**\ \ The **ATTACH EXISTING DISK** option allows you to connect an existing virtual disk to a VM instance. This is useful when you want to reuse a disk that already contains data, an operating system, or applications. By attaching an existing disk, you can access its contents without having to create a new disk or reconfigure the storage.
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    On the right side **Existing disk** wizard will open, here you can modify the Mode configurations
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    Congratulations on exploring the VM ATTACH EXISTING DISK configurations!