Launch an Instance from Volume with the GPU Service

Booting from volume will allow you to choose the size of your boot volume, and persistent volume will continue to exist after the instance is terminated. Persistent volumes can be reused with different instances, and can be extended to a larger size.

First, create a Volume from an Image, then use the created Volume to Boot an Instance.

Important Security Reminder

Please ensure you have read and are in compliance with our Security Guidelines, as per the ARDC Nectar Research Cloud Terms of Use. Our Online Tutorial on Security practices on the Nectar Cloud provides practical steps you can take to maintain security on Nectar.

Step 1: Create a Volume from an Image

1a. Navigate to the Images page

On the Nectar Dashboard, navigate to Project / Compute / Images in the navigation panel on the left hand side.

This will display a list of images.

1b. Find GPU options

In the search bar, select the Visibility filter from the drop-down menu, then select Public to show only public images. Add the search term: "GPU".

1c. Create Volume

Click the drop-down arrow next Launch for to the desired image, and click Create Volume.

A window will open for you to create a volume.

1d. Enter details

Enter the desired Size (GiB) of your volume, without exceeding the Remaining available quota, as indicated to the right.

Select the appropriate Availability Zone (AZ).

NOTE: The Availability Zone must match your original allocation request.

Click Create Volume in the bottom right corner of the window.

1e. View your Volume

On the Nectar Dashboard, navigate to Project / Volumes / Volumes in the navigation panel on the left hand side.

Existing volumes and newly created volumes will be listed. The created volume's Status will progress from Creating to downloading. Please be patient, as this may take a while (the larger the size of the source image, the longer it will take).

When it is ready, the Status will display as Available. You can now launch the volume as an instance.

Step 2: Boot Instance from Volume

2a. Navigate to the Volumes page

On the Nectar Dashboard, navigate to Project / Volumes / Volumes in the navigation panel on the left hand side.

2b. Launch as Instance

For an available Volume, select Launch as Instance from the drop-down arrow next to Edit Volume.

A window will open for you to configure and launch an instance.

Complete the required fields, by naming your instance. The Availability Zone can be left as Any Availability Zone (to allow automatic selection); otherwise you must select the Availability Zone to match the Volume you are using.

The Boot Source will be pre-filled for you.

2c. Select the Flavor

For reservation instances, you need to select the relevant Flavor as requested with your reservation.

2d. Enter details

You should allocate your desired Security Groups, and Key Pair, and complete other steps as desired.

2e. Launch Instance

When you're ready, click Launch Instance in the bottom right corner of the window.

The volume will now display as being Attached To your instance.

Step 3: Access your instance

On the Nectar Dashboard, navigate to Project / Compute / Instances in the navigation panel on the left hand side.

The instance you booted from volume will be displayed in the list. You can now access and use your instance.

Once it has finished spawning your volume will persist.