Instance states (running, stopped, terminated) in GCP - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does the running state mean for a Compute Engine instance?

The instance is powered on and actively working. It can process tasks and respond to network requests.

beginner

What happens when a Compute Engine instance is in the stopped state?

The instance is powered off but still exists. You are not charged for the instance's CPU or memory, but storage costs remain.

beginner

Explain the terminated state of a Compute Engine instance.

The instance has been deleted and no longer exists. All resources tied to it are released and you stop paying for it.

beginner

Can you restart a Compute Engine instance from the stopped state?

Yes, you can start a stopped instance again. It will boot up and return to the running state.

intermediate

What is the difference between stopping and terminating an instance?

Stopping powers off the instance but keeps it saved for later use. Terminating deletes the instance permanently.

What state is a Compute Engine instance in when it is powered on and ready to use?

A Terminated

B Stopped

C Running

D Paused

The running state means the instance is powered on and active.

If you want to save costs but keep your instance data, which state should you use?

A Stopped

B Suspended

C Terminated

D Running

Stopped instances do not incur CPU or memory charges but keep storage data.

What happens to your instance when it is terminated?

A It pauses temporarily

B It is powered off but saved

C It restarts automatically

D It is deleted permanently

Terminated means the instance is deleted and resources are released.

Can you restart an instance that is stopped?

A Yes, it will return to running

B No, you must create a new instance

C No, stopped means terminated

D Only if you pause it first

Stopped instances can be started again to become running.

Which state means you are still charged for storage but not for CPU or memory?

A Running

B Stopped

C Terminated

D Suspended

Stopped instances keep storage and incur storage costs only.

Describe the differences between running, stopped, and terminated states of a Compute Engine instance.

Think about what happens to the instance and billing in each state.

Explain why you might choose to stop an instance instead of terminating it.

Stopping is like pausing, terminating is like deleting.