Creating an instance on Oracle Cloud allows you to leverage scalable cloud infrastructure to run your applications. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of setting up a virtual machine (VM) instance in Oracle Cloud.

Step 1: Sign In to Oracle Cloud

Before creating an instance, ensure that you have an Oracle Cloud account. Follow these steps to log in:

  1. Visit Oracle Cloud: Open your browser and go to the Oracle Cloud website.
  2. Sign In: Click on the Sign In button located in the top-right corner of the page.
  3. Enter Your Credentials: Use your Oracle Cloud account details to sign in. If you don’t have an account, you can register for a free trial.

Step 2: Navigate to the Compute Section

Once logged in, follow these steps to find the Compute instance creation page:

  1. Open the Oracle Cloud Console: You’ll be redirected to the Oracle Cloud dashboard after signing in.
  2. Access the Menu: In the top-left corner of the page, click the hamburger icon (☰) to open the main menu.
  3. Select Compute: In the menu, navigate to Compute > Instances. This is where you will manage your virtual machines.

Step 3: Create a New Instance

Now, let’s create the instance:

  1. Click Create Instance: On the Instances page, click the Create Instance button.
  2. Enter Basic Information:
    • Instance Name: Give your instance a unique and meaningful name (e.g., "WebServer", "TestInstance").
    • Compartment: Ensure that the correct compartment is selected. Compartment is used to organize and isolate resources within Oracle Cloud.

Step 4: Configure Instance Details

This is where you define the technical specifications for your VM instance:

  1. Choose an Image:
    • In the Image and Shape section, click Edit next to Image to select the operating system (OS) for your instance.
    • Available OS options include Oracle Linux, Ubuntu, Windows, and more. Choose the one that suits your needs (e.g., Ubuntu for general development or Oracle Linux for Oracle-specific applications).
    • You can also bring your own image if needed.
  1. Select the Shape:
    • Click Edit next to Shape to configure the hardware resources for your instance. The shape defines how many CPUs and how much memory the instance will have.
    • For example, you can choose an Ampere A1 Compute instance for ARM-based architecture or an Intel/AMD-based VM.
    • The available shapes are categorized based on performance needs (Standard, DenseIO for storage-intensive applications, etc.).
  1. Networking Configuration:
    • Select the Virtual Cloud Network (VCN). If you don’t have a VCN yet, Oracle Cloud provides an option to create a new one during the instance setup process.
    • Choose the Subnet where your instance will reside, and decide whether you want to assign a Public IP Address. Assigning a public IP will allow external access to your instance, which is essential for web servers and remote management.

Step 5: Configure Additional Instance Settings

Advanced configurations let you customize your instance further:

  1. Boot Volume: Choose the size and performance of the boot volume (primary storage) for your instance. Oracle Cloud provides flexible options for SSD-based volumes.
  2. SSH Keys for Linux Instances:
    • Oracle Cloud requires SSH keys for secure access to Linux-based instances. If you don’t have one, generate a new SSH key pair using a command like ssh-keygen on your local machine, or use Oracle’s built-in option to create one.
    • Upload your public key to Oracle Cloud or paste it into the text box provided.
  • Windows Credentials: For Windows instances, create a user password or use Oracle Cloud’s auto-generated password.
  • Other Advanced Options:
    • Block Volumes: Attach additional block volumes if you require more storage.
    • Placement and Fault Domain: Select a fault domain for high availability (useful for critical applications).
    • Instance Metadata: Add metadata such as scripts that will run when your instance starts.
    • Monitoring: Enable Oracle Cloud Monitoring to track your instance’s health and performance.

Step 6: Review and Create the Instance

  1. Review Your Configuration: Before finalizing, Oracle Cloud will display a summary of your instance's configuration. Double-check the image, shape, networking, and additional settings.
  2. Click Create: Once you’re satisfied, click the Create button. Oracle Cloud will begin provisioning your instance, which typically takes a few minutes.

Step 7: Access Your Oracle Cloud Instance

After the instance has been successfully created, you’ll be redirected to the instance’s details page:

  1. Public IP and Private IP: Find your instance’s Public IP (if assigned) and Private IP. The Public IP is necessary for connecting to the instance from outside the Oracle Cloud network.
  2. Connect via SSH (for Linux instances):
    • Open a terminal on your local machine.
    • Use the SSH command to connect to your instance:
ssh -i /path/to/your/private-key.pem opc@your-public-ip
    • Replace /path/to/your/private-key.pem with the location of your private SSH key, and your-public-ip with the IP address provided by Oracle Cloud.
  1. RDP Connection (for Windows instances):
    • Download the RDP file from the instance details page.
    • Use an RDP client (such as the built-in client on Windows) to connect using your instance’s public IP and the credentials provided.

Final Thoughts: Customizing Your Instance

Your new Oracle Cloud instance is now ready for use. You can further customize it by:

  • Installing applications: Install your desired applications and tools such as web servers, databases, or development environments.
  • Configuring firewalls: Use Oracle Cloud’s Security Lists or Network Security Groups (NSGs) to manage inbound and outbound traffic to your instance.
  • Backup and scaling: Attach additional storage or scale the instance resources as your needs grow.

By following these steps, you’ll have a running virtual machine in Oracle Cloud that is fully customized to your requirements. Whether you’re hosting a web application, running a database, or experimenting with cloud computing, Oracle Cloud offers a flexible platform for your needs.