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Public Cloud powered by VMware: quick start

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You can work with the Public Cloud through the VMware Cloud Director® panel or via the VMware Cloud Director API.

You can watch the video on connecting to the Public Cloud.

  1. Top up your balance.
  2. Create an organization.
  3. Create a virtual data center (vDC).
  4. Optional: create an additional user.
  5. Optional: grant the user access to the virtual data center.
  6. Create a vApp container.
  7. Connect the virtual machine to the internet.
  8. If you have created a Routed network, configure SSH/RDP access to the virtual machine.

1. Top up balance

Before you begin configuring the Public Cloud, top up your balance.

2. Create an organization

An organization is an administrative unit that includes users, virtual data centers, networks, and virtual machines. Learn more about working with organizations in the Create an organization guide.

  1. In the Control panel, on the top menu, click Products and select Cloud powered by VMware.
  2. Click Create an organization.
  3. Select a region.
  4. Click Create an organization.

3. Create a virtual data center

A virtual data center is a set of virtual cloud computing resources (processors, memory, disk space, networks). Learn more about virtual data centers in the Create a virtual data center guide.

  1. In the Control panel, on the top menu, click Products and select Cloud powered by VMware.

  2. Go to the Virtual Data Centers section.

  3. Click Create a virtual data center.

  4. Select a cluster type:

    • SILVER-1 — a cluster with universal storage and optimized cost, suitable for most tasks;
    • GOLD-1 — a cluster with fast storage, suitable for high-load applications and databases;
    • PLATINUM-1 (available in the Moscow region only) — a cluster on high-frequency processors with fast storage, suitable for resource-intensive applications requiring high CPU frequency and disk subsystem speed.

  5. If you have selected the GOLD-1 cluster, choose an availability zone:

    • DUB3 (availability zone based on the Dubrovka-3 data center) — deployment in a single availability zone (similar to SILVER-1 and PLATINUM-1 clusters);
    • CVT2 + DUB3 (availability zones based on the Dubrovka-3 and Tsvetnaya-2 data centers) — deployment in two availability zones within a catastrophe-resilient cluster.

  6. Click Create a virtual data center.

4. Create an additional user

Learn more about users in the Manage virtual data center users guide.

  1. From the control panel, open the Cloud Director panel: in the top menu click Products → Cloud powered by VMware → section Cloud Director.
  2. Log in to Cloud Director with an administrator account. You can view administrator details and reset the password in the control panel in the Cloud powered by VMware → Users.
  3. Open the Administration tab.
  4. Go to the Access Control → Users section.
  5. Click New.
  6. Enter a username, password, and user role. A user with the Organization Administrator role always has access to all the organization's data centers.
  7. Click Save. The new user will be displayed in the control panel on the Users tab.

5. Grant the user access to a virtual data center

  1. In the Control panel, on the top menu, click Products and select Cloud powered by VMware.
  2. Go to the Users section.
  3. In the user card, open the Virtual Data Center Access tab.
  4. In the row with the virtual data center you want to grant access to, turn on the toggle switch.

6. Create a vApp container

A vApp is a container in Cloud Director with virtual machines grouped together to perform a specific task; learn more in the Manage vApps and virtual machines guide.

  1. From the control panel, open the Cloud Director panel: in the top menu click Products → Cloud powered by VMware → section Cloud Director.
  2. Open the virtual data center page.
  3. Go to the Compute → vApps section.
  4. Click NEW → New vApp.
  5. Enter a vApp name.
  6. Click Add virtual machine.
  7. Enter the Name and Computer Name.
  8. If you are creating a virtual machine from a template, in the Type field, select From Template.
  9. Optional: to power on the virtual machine immediately after creation, select the Power on checkbox.
  10. Select an OS image.
  11. Select a Storage Policy (network volume type).
  12. Click OK.
  13. Optional: add additional virtual machines. If necessary, you can add them to the created vApp later.
  14. Click Create. Creating a virtual machine takes some time.

7. Connect the virtual machine to the internet

You can connect a virtual machine to the internet:

  • using a Routed network via a local Edge router. Firewall and NAT configuration will be required;
  • using a Direct Connected subnet to connect it directly to the virtual machine.

Learn more about networks in the Public Cloud networks guide.

  1. From the control panel, open the Cloud Director panel: in the top menu click Products → Cloud powered by VMware → section Cloud Director.
  2. Open the virtual data center page.
  3. Go to the Compute → vApps section.
  4. In the ACTIONS menu of the required vApp, select Add → Add Network.
  5. Select the Routed network type.
  6. Select the preconfigured default_net local network and click Add.
  7. Go to the Virtual Machines section.
  8. In the block for the required virtual machine, click Details.
  9. Go to the Hardware → NICs section.
  10. Click Edit. If there is no network adapter, click New.
  11. In the Network column, select the default_net network.
  12. In the Connected column, check the checkbox.
  13. Click Save.

8. Configure SSH/RDP access to the virtual machine

  1. Configure the Firewall.

  2. Set up a DNAT rule. NAT will not work if the Firewall is disabled or if there is a blocking rule. When configuring NAT:

    • via SSH: open port 22 by creating a DNAT rule;
    • via RDP: open port 3389 by creating a DNAT rule.