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VCS instance lifecycle

Actions performed on the VCS instances via portal or in the instance, such as create, stop, start, shut down, restart and delete, are closely related to instance states as well as instance resources, data, and billing. Actions also affects connection, image, load balancing, Auto Scaling, disk and other related services. In this document, we explain in detail the relationship between instance lifecycle, meanings, and billing of a VCS instance from its creation to its deletion.

  • Actions and the transitions between VCS instance states:

  • The relationship between instance state, state description and usage billing is shown in the following table:
Instance stateState descriptionUsage billing
StartingPrepare to enter the Ready state.
(1) When creating an instance: resources are allocated for instance initialization
(2) When starting the instance in the Stopped state: the stopped instance is starting.
(3) When starting the instance in the Shutdown state: the shutdown instance is starting.		Except (3) will be billed, (1) and (2) are not billed
ReadyThe initialization has been completed, and the instance can be connected and ready for use.Billed
StoppingInstance resources are being released, preparing to enter in the Stopped stateBilled
StoppedSelect STOP on the portal, and the instance enters the Stopped state (instance shutdown and computing resources have been released), and you can click start on portal again to re-allocate resources.Not billed
ShutdownAfter executing the shutdown command in the instance, the instance enters the Shutdown state, and it can be restarted by selecting START on the portal.Billed
QueueingThe system is allocating resources . After obtaining the resources, the instance will enter Starting state.Not billed
RebootingThe instance is in the process of rebooting and preparing to enter the Ready state.Billed
DeletingThe instance is in the process of being deleted and will be permanently deleted.Billed until the instance is successfully deleted

Create VCS instances​

When you create a VCS instance, resources are allocated for the instance initialization. The instance enters the Starting state, which is not ready for use.

When it enters Ready state, you can perform the following actions:

  • Connect to the instance
  • Attach/detach the VDS data disks
  • Create the instance image
  • Assign/detach public IP
  • Attach/detach the auto scaling and the load balancing

Stop a VCS instance​

If you plan not to use the instance for a period of time and want to keep the resources, you can click STOP to shut down the instance and release resources. The instance will be in the Stopping state and ready to change to the Stopped state which the resources have been released. Under the Stopped state, instance will no longer be billed.

  • Go to the VCS Instance Management page > select the instance > click STOP at the top.

  • Or click    next to the instance > click STOP.
  • Or enter the VCS Instance Details page > click STOP at the top.

The operating restrictions after stopping are as follows.

  • Connect and login
  • Assign/detach public IP
  • Attach/detach VDS Data Disk
  • Create instance images
  • Attach/detach Auto Scaling and Load Balancing Service
info
  1. Resources that will be released after the instance is stopped: GPU, CPU, vCPU, memory, Floating IP (New Floating IP will be acquired after the instance is started again).
  2. Resources that will be kept after the instance is stopped: OS disk, Data Disk, Auto Scaling, Load Balancing, Static IP. The above resources will be automatically attached back to the instance after the instance is started again.
  3. Except for the data in memory, which will be erased, all data stored in the instance will be reserved.
caution

Please do not delete a VCS instance when it is in the Stopping state, otherwise it will affect the system processing and cause and instance Error.


Start a VCS instance (and reboot)​

To resume and use a stopped instance, or to start an instance that has been shutdown, please click Start. The state of the instance will be Starting in the process of reallocating resources, and prepare for entering the Ready state again.

  • Go to the VCS Instance Management page > select the instance > click START at the top.

  • Or click    next to the instance > click START.
  • Or enter the VCS Instance Details page > click START at the top.
info

Most stopped instances will be created on a new physical host when they are started again.


Restart a VCS instance​

To reboot (turn off and then turn on) an instance in the Ready state, please click Reboot. The state of the instance will be Rebooting in the process of rebooting, and prepare for entering the Ready state again.

  • Go to the VCS Instace Management page > select the instance > click REBOOT at the top.

  • Or click next to the instance > click REBOOT.
  • Or enter the VCS Instance Details page > click REBOOT at the top.
info

Unlike stopping instances, after rebooting the instances, except for erasing the memory data, resources are not released back to the resource pool (including floating IP), and the stored data are retained and can still be used after rebooting.


Shut down a VCS instance​

After performing a shutdown, the instance will be in the Shutdown state. In the Shutdown state, the instance will continue to be billed.

TWSC portal and TWCC CLI do not support the shutdown function, please operate it in the instance:

  • Linux instance: You can execute sudo shutdown or sudo poweroff -f in the instance to shut it down
  • Windows instance: You can use shutdown -s, or click the shutdown button at the bottom left of the desktop to shut it down.

The operating restrictions after shutdown are as follows.

  • Connect and login
  • Assign/detach public IP
  • Attach/detach VDS Data Disk
  • Create instance images
  • Attach/detach Auto Scaling and Load Balancing Service
info

Unlike stopping instances, after shutting down the instances, except for erasing the memory data, resources are not released back to the resource pool. The stored data are retained and can still be used after starting again.


Delete a VCS instance​

To permanantly delete an instance and no longer use it again, please delete the instance.

Other considerations for deletion:

  • The data in the operating system (boot) disk will also be permanently deleted. If you need to keep it, you can create an instance image.
  • The data disk will be automatically unmounted and kept.
  • Go to the VCS Instance Management page > click    next to the instance > Click DELETE.

  • Or go to the VCS Instance Details page > click DELETE at the top.

info
  • A user can only create and delete virtual computing entities 10 times in a minute.
  • If Delete Protection is enabled, you cannot delete the resource directly, please disable it first and then delete it again.