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1.4. Instance Types

Instance types can be used to define the hardware configuration of a virtual machine. Selecting an instance type when creating or editing a virtual machine will automatically fill in the hardware configuration fields. This allows users to create multiple virtual machines with the same hardware configuration without having to manually fill in every field.
A set of predefined instance types are available by default, as outlined in the following table:

Table 1.6. Predefined Instance Types

Name
Memory
vCPUs
Tiny
512 MB
1
Small
2 GB
1
Medium
4 GB
2
Large
8 GB
2
XLarge
16 GB
4
Administrators can also create, edit, and remove instance types from the Instance Types tab of the Configure window.
The Instance Types Tab

Figure 1.9. The Instance Types Tab

Fields in the New Virtual Machine and Edit Virtual Machine windows that are bound to an instance type will have a chain link image next to them ( ). If the value of one of these fields is changed, the virtual machine will be detached from the instance type, changing to Custom, and the chain will appear broken ( ). However, if the value is changed back, the chain will relink and the instance type will move back to the selected one.

1.4.1. Creating Instance Types

Administrators can create new instance types, which can then be selected by users when creating or editing virtual machines.

Procedure 1.4. Creating an Instance Type

  1. On the header bar, click Configure.
  2. Click the Instance Types tab.
  3. Click New to open the New Instance Type window.
    The New Instance Type Window

    Figure 1.10. The New Instance Type Window

  4. Enter a Name and Description for the instance type.
  5. Click Show Advanced Options and configure the instance type's settings as required. The settings that appear in the New Instance Type window are identical to those in the New Virtual Machine window, but with the relevant fields only. See Explanation of Settings in the New Virtual Machine and Edit Virtual Machine Windows in the Virtual Machine Management Guide.
  6. Click OK.
The new instance type will appear in the Instance Types tab in the Configure window, and can be selected from the Instance Type drop-down list when creating or editing a virtual machine.

1.4.2. Editing Instance Types

Administrators can edit existing instance types from the Configure window.

Procedure 1.5. Editing Instance Type Properties

  1. On the header bar, click Configure.
  2. Click the Instance Types tab.
  3. Select the instance type to be edited.
  4. Click Edit to open the Edit Instance Type window.
  5. Change the settings as required.
  6. Click OK.
The configuration of the instance type is updated. When a new virtual machine based on this instance type is created, or when an existing virtual machine based on this instance type is updated, the new configuration is applied.
Existing virtual machines based on this instance type will display fields, marked with a chain icon, that will be updated. If the existing virtual machines were running when the instance type was changed, the orange Pending Changes icon will appear beside them and the fields with the chain icon will be updated at the next restart.

1.4.3. Removing Instance Types

Procedure 1.6. Removing an Instance Type

  1. On the header bar, click Configure.
  2. Click the Instance Types tab.
  3. Select the instance type to be removed.
  4. Click Remove to open the Remove Instance Type window.
  5. If any virtual machines are based on the instance type to be removed, a warning window listing the attached virtual machines will appear. To continue removing the instance type, select the Approve Operation checkbox. Otherwise click Cancel.
  6. Click OK.
The instance type is removed from the Instance Types list and can no longer be used when creating a new virtual machine. Any virtual machines that were attached to the removed instance type will now be attached to Custom (no instance type).