Different Methods to Connect to a GCP Linux Compute Engine Instance

Connect to a GCP Linux Compute Engine Instance

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) offers a robust and scalable infrastructure, and one of its core services is the Compute Engine, which provides virtual machines (VMs) running on Google’s infrastructure.

Connecting to a Linux-based Compute Engine instance is a common task for developers and system administrators.

This blog will guide you through the process, step by step.

Step 1: Connect via Google Cloud Console
Process:

• Create Google Linux compute engine.

• Navigate to the VM instances page: VM Instances.

• Locate your Linux VM and click the SSH button in the corresponding row.

• Click on Open in browser window.

• A browser-based terminal will open, connecting you directly to the instance.

Step 2: Connect via gcloud CLI using CloudShell
Process:

• Create Google Linux compute engine.
• Open the Cloud shell terminal.
• To connect to the Linux instance, use the command:

gcloud compute ssh [INSTANCE_NAME] --zone=[ZONE]
- Replace [INSTANCE_NAME] with the name of your instance and [ZONE] with its zone (e.g., us-central1-a)

• The Linux terminal will open, establishing a direct connection to the instance.

Step 3: Connect via gcloud CLI using gcloud SDK
Process:

• Create Google Linux compute engine.

• Follow these steps to connect to a Linux instance:

• Install the Google Cloud SDK on your workstation.

• Open the command line interface in your workstation.

• Authenticate to google using:
  

gcloud auth login

• Set the default Google Cloud project using:

gcloud config set project [PROJECT_ID]
- Replace [PROJECT_ID] with the ID of your Google Cloud project

• To connect to the Linux instance, use the command:

gcloud compute ssh [INSTANCE_NAME] --zone=[ZONE]
- Replace [INSTANCE_NAME] with the name of your instance and [ZONE] with its zone (e.g., us-central1-a)

• The Linux terminal will open, establishing a direct connection to the instance.

Step 4: Connect via ssh using own SSH Key defined in the Project metadata
Process:

• On your local machine, generate an SSH key pair.
• Use the key comment as the login name for Linux Compute Engine.
• Save public key and private key, on your local machine.

• Navigate to Compute engine > Metadata.
• Click the SSH Keys --> Click Add SSH Key --> Select Add Item.
• Copy the Public Key.

• Copy the External/ Internal IP of the compute engine.

• Follow these steps to connect to a Linux instance:
• Launch PuTTY or another compatible tool.
• Expand Connection > SSH > Auth and select credentials.
• Click Browse and locate your private key file.

• The Linux terminal will open and prompt you for a username. Enter the username to connect to the instance.

Step 4: Connect via ssh using own SSH Key defined in the Compute Engine
Process:

• On your local machine, generate an SSH key pair.
• Use the key comment as the login name for Linux Compute Engine.
• Save public key and private key.
• Create Google Linux compute engine.
• In the Security section:
• Select Add Item, under Add manually generated SSH keys.
• Copy the Public Key.

• Copy the External/ Internal IP of the compute engine.
• Follow these steps to connect to a Linux instance:
• Launch PuTTY or another compatible tool.
• Expand Connection > SSH > Auth and select credentials.
• Click Browse and locate your private key file.
• The Linux terminal will open and prompt you for a username. Enter the username to connect to the instance.

Step 5: Connect via ssh using own username and password
Process:

• Create Google Linux compute engine.
• In the Advanced section:
• Copy the script below (adjust it according to your Linux distribution) under Startup script.

$sec_pass = ConvertTo-SecureString -String "lab-password@123" -AsPlainText -Force
New-LocalUser -Name gcpadmin -PasswordNeverExpires -Password $sec_pass
Add-LocalGroupMember -Group Administrators -Member gcpadmin

• Copy the External/ Internal IP of the compute engine.
• Follow these steps to connect to a Linux instance:
• Launch PuTTY or another compatible tool.
• The Linux terminal will open and prompt you for a username and password. Enter the username and password to connect to the instance.