Virtual machines

Some work does not fit in a container: a different kernel, systemd, Windows. For those cases you can create a full virtual machine from a template an admin has defined, within your quota. Virtual machines come with the Ultra plan.

Life of a virtual machineOn the Ultra plan you create a virtual machine from Compute, choosing a name, an admin-defined template and a size within your quota. The first boot takes a few minutes. When it runs you connect with a Remote Desktop file; the administrator password is shown once at creation. You can stop the machine, change its size while it is stopped (the disk can only grow), start it again, or delete it by typing its name.connectStopStart1. Compute, Isolated machineUltra planname, template, sizewithin your quotaFirst boottakes a few minutes2. RunningRemote Desktopdownload the .rdp filethe administrator passwordis shown once at creationStoppedchange size: the disk cangrow but never shrinkDeleteyou type the nameto confirm
A machine is created within your quota, reached over Remote Desktop, and resized only while it is stopped.
Diagram as text
  1. Open Compute and choose Isolated machine. This needs the Ultra plan. Give it a name, pick a template and a size that fits your quota.
  2. The first boot takes a few minutes before Remote Desktop answers.
  3. Connect with the .rdp file from the machine's page. The administrator password is shown once when the machine is created.
  4. Stop the machine to change its size. The disk can only grow, and Windows sees the new space after the partition is extended.
  5. Start it again, or delete it: you type the machine's name to confirm.

Where a container is not enough

Plan view
Container
  • a different kernel
  • systemd
  • Windows
Virtual machine

The bounds

Template
Choose from the templates listed for your account.
Quota
You create VMs within your quota, from Compute, Isolated machine. The first boot takes a few minutes.
Visibility
Start, stop, restart and remove your own machines from Compute. Removing one means typing its name.
Access
Connect over Remote Desktop with the .rdp file from the machine's page. The administrator password is shown once when the machine is created.
Resizing
Stop the machine first. The disk can grow but never shrink.
Not included
No browser file access and no snapshots. Use a container when you need those.