This introduction is intended for users that want to start a few virtual machine instances in the cloud or they want to adjust their project more carefully to their needs through the Graphical Interface of OpenStack.
The process is practically very similar to creating a virtual machine instance in [Quickstart](https://cloud.gitlab-pages.ics.muni.cz/documentation/0-quickstart/), you need to
* sign in via the MetaCentrum cloud web interface,
* create an *ssh* key pair or use an existing key pair,
* create virtual machine instances,
* create virtual private network,
* create virtual router,
* join virtual private network to internet through router interfaces,
* set up or update a security group,
* start a virtual machine instance,
* allocate floating IP address (add or remove IP address to/from virtual machine instance)
* log in to the running instance using *ssh* (secure shell),
The web interface is available at [https://cloud.muni.cz](https://cloud.muni.cz).
To sign in,
* select `ENIFRA CESNET`,
* click on `Sign In`,
* select your institution from the drop-down list (use the search box at the top as a filter),
* provide your institution-specific sign-in credentials,
* wait to be redirected back to our web interface.
## Create Key Pair
All virtual machine instances running in the cloud have to be accessed remotely. The most common way of accessing a virtual machine instance remotely is the secure shell - *ssh*. Using *ssh* requires a pair of cryptographic keys.
1. To create a new *ssh* key pair, go to **Project > Compute > Key Pairs** and click the button "Create Key Pair"
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2. Name your new key and click on "Create Key Pair" again. Avoid using special characters, if possible.
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3. You can see your newly created key pair and its fingerprint. We recommend you store the key in a safe location and back it up in case you accidentally delete it.
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## Create virtual machine instances
The creation of virtual machine instances is very straight-forward:
1. In Compute -> Instances push the button "Launch Instance"
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2. Choose Instance Name and Count of instances, how many you want to create. If you are creating more instances, the number in format '-X' will be added automatically to the Instance Name for each instance.
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Then click on Next.
3. Choose the source of booting: if you want to boot your Instances from Image or you have a snapshot. Pick the desired image to boot from.
You can choose, if you want to have persistent image (instance will be available after shutdown) with default option Create New Volume: Yes, or don't.
You can choose to delete Volume with Instance Delete, too.
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4. Pick the flavour - size of Instances created: VCPUs, RAM, Total Disk (Root). There are a few possibilities to choose from. You can add [additional disk]() later.
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5. Next you need to put your Instances to network created earlier
You can jumped through Network Ports and Security Groups to Key Pair.
6. In Key Pair you need to add your earlier created public key. It will be added to authorized keys on instances and will allow you to ssh access to them from terminal/Putty or whatever you are using as ssh tool for connecting.
If you haven't created key pair yet, you can do it now or you can import existing public key from file on your computer.
7. Then you can click on Launch Instance. After a few minutes they will be ready for using.
Quickstart is intended for users that want to spin up a virtual machine instance in the cloud as quickly as possible.
To create a virtual machine instance, you need to
* sign in via the MetaCentrum cloud web interface,
* create an *ssh* key pair or use an existing key pair,
* set up or update a security group,
* start a virtual machine instance,
* log in to the running instance using *ssh* (secure shell).
## Sign In
The web interface is available at [https://cloud.muni.cz](https://cloud.muni.cz).
To sign in,
* select `ENIFRA CESNET`,
* click on `Sign In`,
* select your institution from the drop-down list (use the search box at the top as a filter),
* provide your institution-specific sign-in credentials,
* wait to be redirected back to our web interface.
## Create Key Pair
All virtual machine instances running in the cloud have to be accessed remotely. The most common way of accessing a virtual machine instance remotely is the secure shell - *ssh*. Using *ssh* requires a pair of cryptographic keys.
1. To create a new *ssh* key pair, go to **Project > Compute > Key Pairs** and click the button "Create Key Pair"
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2. Name your new key and click on "Create Key Pair" again. Avoid using special characters, if possible.
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3. You can see your newly created key pair and its fingerprint. We recommend you store the key in a safe location and back it up in case you accidentally delete it.
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## Update Security Group
In OpenStack, all incoming traffic from external networks to virtual machine instances is blocked by default. You need to explicitly allow access to individual virtual machine instances and services via a security group.
You need to add two new rules to be able to connect to your new instance (or any instance using the given security group). This is similar to setting up firewall rules on your router or server. If set up correctly, you will be able to access your virtual machine via *ssh* from your local terminal.
1. Go to **Project > Networks > Security Groups**. Here you can see the default security group. You can either edit the default group by clicking on "Manage Rules" or create a new one. The simplest way is to edit the default group.
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2. Click on "Add rule", choose "SSH" and leave the remaining fields unchanged.
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3. Click on "Add rule", choose "ALL ICMP" and leave the remaining fields unchanged.
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## Start Instance
1. Navigate to **Quickstart** and click on "Launch Instance".
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2. Choose a name for your virtual machine.
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3. Choose an Operating System to run on your instance, also known as an **Image**.
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4. Choose a suitable size of the new instance, also known as a **Flavor**.
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5. Select the previously created *ssh* key pair by name.
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6. Click on "Launch instance" and wait until **Quickstart** provides you with information about the running virtual machine instance.
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7.*[Optionally]* Add a persistent volume to the running virtual machine instance.
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8. Close the dialog with "Finish" to return to the list of active instances.
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## Log In
Follow instructions provided by **Quickstart** and log in remotely:
