How to Create a Virtual Machine (VM) on Google Cloud Platform [GCP] (2025)

*Title:* How to Create a Virtual Machine (VM) on Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

*Description:*
Learn how to create a Virtual Machine (VM) on Google Cloud Platform (GCP) with this step-by-step tutorial. This guide is perfect for beginners and professionals alike who want to explore GCP's Compute Engine to deploy applications, run workloads, or experiment with cloud infrastructure.

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Why Use GCP for Virtual Machines?
Google Cloud Platform offers powerful and scalable infrastructure services for running virtual machines. With GCP, you can customize your VM's resources, operating system, and networking options to meet your specific needs.

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Steps to Create a Virtual Machine on GCP

#### 1. *Sign In to Google Cloud Console*
Visit the [Google Cloud Console](https://console.cloud.google.com/).
Sign in with your Google account.
If you’re a first-time user, you can start with the free trial credits.

#### 2. *Set Up a New Project*
In the Cloud Console, click the project dropdown menu at the top.
Click *New Project* and give it a name.
Select the project and wait for it to initialize.

#### 3. *Enable Compute Engine API*
Go to the *APIs & Services* section from the main menu.
Search for *Compute Engine API* and enable it.
This may take a few seconds to activate.

#### 4. *Create a Virtual Machine*
Navigate to *Compute Engine - VM Instances* from the menu.
Click **Create Instance**.

#### 5. *Configure Your VM*
**Name**: Provide a meaningful name for your VM instance.
**Region and Zone**: Choose a location based on your target audience or application needs.
**Machine Type**: Select a machine type (e.g., e2-medium, n1-standard-1) that fits your resource requirements.
**Boot Disk**: Choose an operating system (e.g., Debian, Ubuntu, Windows) and configure disk size.
**Networking**: Configure the networking settings, including firewall rules for HTTP/HTTPS access.

#### 6. *Add Firewall Rules*
Check the boxes for *Allow HTTP traffic* and *Allow HTTPS traffic* to enable web access to your VM.

#### 7. *Create the Instance*
Click the *Create* button.
Wait for GCP to provision the VM.

#### 8. *Access Your VM*
Once the VM is ready, you’ll see it listed under **VM Instances**.
Use the *SSH* button next to your instance to connect to it directly from the browser.

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Additional Tips
**Budget Management**: Set up billing alerts to avoid unexpected costs.
**Snapshots**: Regularly create snapshots of your VM for backups.
**Scaling**: Use autoscaling if you anticipate fluctuating workloads.

With this guide, you’ll be able to create and manage virtual machines on Google Cloud Platform with ease. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more tutorials!

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