GCE: create instance template out of disk snapshot

Question

Is it possible? Official manual consists this:

Deterministic instance templates

• Use custom images or disk snapshots rather than startup scripts.

But no more info how can I do this. Maybe someone have already did that? Tnx in advance.

Answer 1

It's possible. Here's the process:

1. Create your Snapshot
2. Create Disk from your Snapshot
3. Create an Image from Disk
4. Create an Instance Template from Image

Answer 2

So my solution is following:

1. I created an instance.
2. Install the required services on that instance.
3. Created the image from the disk using the steps mentioned on this link.
4. With that Image created a new template.

The startup scripts will run on instance boots up or restarts. So the only way I found to run it once is the same which you have tired i.e deleting them from metadata. In my setup when using startup scripts I don't reboot the instances I rather delete them and create a new ones if required.