Simplifying VM deployments on Google Cloud Marketplace with a Terraform-based UI

Many organizations use Terraform as an Infrastructure-as-Code tool for their cloud migration and modernization journeys. In a previous blog, we shared that you can use Terraform to deploy VM instances from Google Cloud Marketplace, making it easier to discover, procure and deploy enterprise-grade cloud solutions for your organization. Today we are excited to share a step-by-step guide to deploying a VM using a Terraform script from the Google Cloud Marketplace user interface (UI), all in just a few clicks. 

Let’s dig in!

Deploying a VM from the Marketplace UI

For a better sense of the experience, let’s take an example — F5 BIG-IP BEST with IPI and Threat Campaigns (PAYG, 25Mbps), an application delivery and security product from our partner F5, Inc. that’s available on the Google Cloud Marketplace. On the product page, you can see pricing, documentation and support information. To start the deployment, click “Get Started”.

After reviewing and accepting the terms of service and the agreements, click the “Agree” button then “Deploy” to move to the deployment page.

The deployment page allows you to review the estimated cost and customize your deployment configuration. You can choose or create a service account with permission to deploy the infrastructure, select the machine type, and configure firewall or network settings. The Terraform UI deployment is then managed by the Google Cloud Infrastructure Manager.

Additionally, you can switch to command-line deployment of the solution from your project, or download the Terraform module to integrate it with your CI/CD pipeline. Once you've completed the configuration, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click "Deploy" to start the deployment process.

You will be navigated to the Solutions page, where you can monitor and manage your deployment via the Google Cloud Marketplace. The time needed to complete the deployment will vary depending on the product. Post deployment, you can do the following actions from the Google Cloud Marketplace Solutions page as follows:

1. View resources

2. View Deployment Details

3. View Deployment Logs

4. Delete the Deployment

5. View suggested next steps

We will talk briefly about these actions in the next section.

Manage your Google Cloud Marketplace deployment

Let’s go through the actions you can take to manage your deployment from the Google Cloud Marketplace UI.

1. The "Resources" tab shows you the provisioned resources and the relevant information to help you locate them in the console. If there were any errors during provisioning, you'll find the related messages here.

2. The "Details" tab provides basic information about your deployment, such as the name, date, location, and output.

3. The "View Logs" button in the top right corner of the page takes you to a new page where you can check the deployment logs. This helps you see how the resources were implemented.

4. To delete the deployment and the provisioned resources, click on the "Delete" button.

5. At the bottom of the page, under the "Suggested next steps" section, you can find additional instructions provided by the solution. 

Conclusion

In this blog, we showed you how to deploy a VM using Terraform from the Google Cloud Marketplace UI, eliminating the need for additional, specialized tools. You also have the option of command-line deployment or to download the curated Terraform module for integration into your existing deployment pipelines. Discover and try a wide range of software and solutions, including VMs, on the Google Cloud Marketplace today.

Learn more:

• Find more VM solutions at Google Cloud Marketplace.

• Learn more about deploying a Google Cloud Marketplace VM solution. 

• See how to manage infrastructure as code with Terraform, Cloud Build, and GitOps.

• Learn more about F5 on Google Cloud.

• For Google Cloud Partners, understand how to onboard your VM solution(s) on Google Cloud Marketplace.