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Boot disk images in GCP - Mini Project: Build & Apply

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Boot Disk Images Setup on Google Cloud Platform
📖 Scenario: You are setting up virtual machines on Google Cloud Platform (GCP) for a small project. Each VM needs a boot disk image to start the operating system. You will create a list of boot disk images, configure a filter to select specific images, and then prepare the final configuration for VM creation.
🎯 Goal: Build a configuration that lists boot disk images, filters them by family, and prepares the final disk configuration for VM instances.
📋 What You'll Learn
Create a dictionary named boot_disk_images with exact image families and their project names.
Add a variable named selected_family to filter images by family.
Use a dictionary comprehension to create filtered_images containing only images matching selected_family.
Create a final dictionary named vm_disk_config that includes the filtered images and sets the disk type to pd-standard.
💡 Why This Matters
🌍 Real World
Setting up boot disk images is essential when creating virtual machines on cloud platforms like GCP. It ensures the VM boots with the correct operating system.
💼 Career
Cloud engineers and infrastructure specialists often configure boot disks for VMs to automate deployments and maintain consistent environments.
Progress0 / 4 steps
1
Create the boot disk images dictionary
Create a dictionary called boot_disk_images with these exact entries: 'debian-11': 'debian-cloud', 'ubuntu-2204-lts': 'ubuntu-os-cloud', 'windows-2019': 'windows-cloud'.
GCP
Hint

Use curly braces to create a dictionary with keys as image families and values as project names.

2
Add the selected_family variable
Add a variable called selected_family and set it to the string 'ubuntu-2204-lts'.
GCP
Hint

Assign the exact string to the variable selected_family.

3
Filter images by selected_family
Use a dictionary comprehension to create a dictionary called filtered_images that includes only the entry from boot_disk_images where the key matches selected_family.
GCP
Hint

Use for family, project in boot_disk_images.items() and filter with if family == selected_family.

4
Create the final VM disk configuration
Create a dictionary called vm_disk_config with two keys: 'images' set to filtered_images and 'disk_type' set to the string 'pd-standard'.
GCP
Hint

Use curly braces to create a dictionary with the specified keys and values.

Practice

(1/5)
1. What is the main purpose of a boot disk image in Google Cloud Platform (GCP)?
easy
A. It stores user data separately from the VM.
B. It provides the operating system for a virtual machine (VM).
C. It manages network traffic for the VM.
D. It controls billing and usage reports.

Solution

  1. Step 1: Understand the role of boot disk images

    Boot disk images contain the operating system that a VM uses to start and run.

  2. Step 2: Identify the correct function in GCP context

    In GCP, the boot disk image is the source of the OS for the VM instance.

  3. Final Answer:

    It provides the operating system for a virtual machine (VM). -> Option B

  4. Quick Check:

    Boot disk image = OS provider [OK]
Hint: Boot disk image = OS for VM startup [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Confusing boot disk image with data disk
  • Thinking it manages network or billing
  • Assuming it stores user files
2. Which of the following is the correct command to list all available public boot disk images in GCP using gcloud CLI?
easy
A. gcloud compute images list --project=debian-cloud
B. gcloud compute instances list --images
C. gcloud compute disks list --public
D. gcloud compute images list --public

Solution

  1. Step 1: Recall the correct gcloud command for listing images

    The command to list images uses 'gcloud compute images list' with a project filter for public images.

  2. Step 2: Identify the public image project

    Public images like Debian are under projects such as 'debian-cloud'. So filtering by --project=debian-cloud lists those images.

  3. Final Answer:

    gcloud compute images list --project=debian-cloud -> Option A

  4. Quick Check:

    List images by project = gcloud compute images list --project=debian-cloud [OK]
Hint: Use --project with public image project name [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Using --public flag which does not exist
  • Listing disks instead of images
  • Listing instances instead of images
3. Consider this snippet to create a VM with a boot disk image:
gcloud compute instances create my-vm \
--image-family=ubuntu-2204-lts \
--image-project=ubuntu-os-cloud

What OS will the VM run?
medium
A. Debian 10
B. CentOS 7
C. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
D. Windows Server 2019

Solution

  1. Step 1: Analyze the image family and project

    The image family 'ubuntu-2204-lts' in project 'ubuntu-os-cloud' refers to Ubuntu 22.04 Long Term Support.

  2. Step 2: Match image family to OS version

    Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is the latest stable Ubuntu release matching the image family name.

  3. Final Answer:

    Ubuntu 22.04 LTS -> Option C

  4. Quick Check:

    Image family ubuntu-2204-lts = Ubuntu 22.04 LTS [OK]
Hint: Image family name shows OS version clearly [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Confusing Ubuntu with Debian or CentOS
  • Ignoring image-project parameter
  • Assuming Windows from Linux image family
4. You tried to create a VM with this command:
gcloud compute instances create test-vm \
--image-family=centos-7 \
--image-project=centos-cloud \
--boot-disk-size=5GB

The command fails with an error about disk size. What is the likely cause?
medium
A. The VM name 'test-vm' is invalid.
B. The image family name is incorrect.
C. The project name 'centos-cloud' does not exist.
D. The boot disk size is too small for the CentOS 7 image.

Solution

  1. Step 1: Understand boot disk size requirements

    CentOS 7 images require a minimum boot disk size larger than 5GB, usually 10GB or more.

  2. Step 2: Check command parameters

    The image family and project are correct, and VM name is valid, so the error is due to insufficient disk size.

  3. Final Answer:

    The boot disk size is too small for the CentOS 7 image. -> Option D

  4. Quick Check:

    Disk size too small causes boot failure [OK]
Hint: Check minimum disk size for image before creating VM [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Assuming image family or project is wrong
  • Ignoring disk size minimum requirements
  • Thinking VM name causes disk size error
5. You want to create a custom boot disk image from an existing VM's disk to use for multiple new VMs. Which steps should you follow?
hard
A. Create a snapshot of the VM's boot disk, then create an image from the snapshot.
B. Directly copy the VM instance to create new VMs without images.
C. Export the VM's disk to a local file, then upload it as an image.
D. Create a new VM and select the existing VM's disk as boot disk.

Solution

  1. Step 1: Create a snapshot of the existing VM's boot disk

    This captures the current state of the disk safely and efficiently.

  2. Step 2: Create a custom image from the snapshot

    Using the snapshot, you create a reusable boot disk image for new VMs.

  3. Final Answer:

    Create a snapshot of the VM's boot disk, then create an image from the snapshot. -> Option A

  4. Quick Check:

    Snapshot then image = reusable boot disk [OK]
Hint: Snapshot first, then create image for reuse [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Trying to copy VM directly without image
  • Exporting disk unnecessarily
  • Using existing disk directly for new VMs