Cloud services like Azure and AWS typically offer virtual machines in only a few pre-set CPU and RAM configurations. However, Google Cloud Platform has just launched a beta of Custom Machine Types, which allows VM buyers to choose exactly how many vCPUs and how much RAM they require.
The traditional arrangement of predetermined options mean that many cloud customers end up having to pay for more than they need. Custom Machine Types, on the other hand, allows a choice of vCPUs – that’s virtual CPUs – of a specific number up to 32 and a decision on the exact amount of needed memory up to 6.5 GiB – that’s gibibyte, rather than the less precise gigabyte – per vCPU.
In a blog post today, Google Cloud Platform’s Product Manager Sami Iqram says that support for Custom Machine Types is being rolled out to developers “over the next few days”. Custom Machine Types will be compatible with operating systems including CentOS, CoreOS and Ubuntu.
