Windows instance using the web interface

Log in to the dashboard at https://dashboard.catalystcloud.nz/

As a new user to the Catalyst Cloud, your initial cloud project will come with a pre-configured private network and a router connected to the internet. If you have deleted this, or would like to create additional networks then please see Creating the required network elements for details on how to do that. In addition, before trying to create a windows instance you should make sure that a windows image exists on the server you’re trying to create and instance on. At the moment we only have our Windows images on our Porirua server.

Otherwise, let’s proceed with building a windows instance.

Note

Some of the following pictures, have files or various servers/security groups etc. That are not standard on the catalyst cloud. Do not worry about their absence on your system, they will not affect this tutorial.

Configure instance security group

You will add a security group and a rule for your instance so that it can be accessed using SSH.

Navigate to the “Security Groups” tab of the left sidebar under the “Network” section. From there, in the upper right of the screen, click the “Create Security Group” button.

../_images/Security-groups.png

Enter a name and description and click “Create Security Group”:

../_images/create-security-group1.png

Now click on “Manage Rules” for the group you have created

../_images/manage-rules-sec-group.png

Click on “Add Rule”:

../_images/add-rules-sg-highlight.png

Create a rule to allow RDP access. This can be selected from the Rule drop down menu, leave the defaults for the other fields. Click “Add”.

../_images/Add-rules.png

Warning

Note that by using the CIDR 0.0.0.0/0 as a remote, you are allowing access from any IP to your compute instance on the port and protocol selected. This is often desirable when exposing a web server (eg: allow HTTP and HTTPs access from the Internet), but is insecure when exposing other protocols, such as RDP, SSH, Telnet and FTP. We strongly recommend you limit the exposure of your compute instances and services to IP addresses or subnets that are trusted.

Booting an instance

We are now ready to launch your first instance. Select launch instance from the instances list:

../_images/instance-overview.png

First thing that we do when creating this instance, is give it a name. For this example we will use fi-windows. An important thing to note here also is that at the moment our windows images are only available in certain regions. This demonstration uses the nz-por-1a region.

../_images/name-instance-screen.png

When creating a Windows instance you need to select the windows-server-2016r2-x86_64 image from the image list first. The volume size should automatically update to what is needed to run this image.

../_images/windows-image.png

Next we pick the flavor. We recommended a minimum flavor of c1.c2r2 for our Windows instances. Select this from the list and click “Next”:

../_images/flavors.png

Select the private-net network from the list and click “Next”:

../_images/networks.png

Select the first-instance-sg security group from the list and click “Next”:

../_images/instance-security-group.png

No key pair is required for a Windows instance. Click “Next”:

It will take a few seconds for your instance to build. You will see the Status, Task and Power State change during this process. When complete, the status will be “Active”. You now have a running instance, but there are a few more steps required before you can log in.

Allocate a floating IP

To associate a floating IP with your instance, you need to navigate to the “Floating IPs” tab of the “Access & Security” section.

If an IP address has not yet been allocated, click on “Allocate IP to Project” to obtain a public IP. Then, select an IP that is not currently mapped and click on “Associate”:

../_images/floating-ip.png

Select the port you wish to be associated with the floating IP. Ports are equivalent to virtual network interfaces of compute instances, and are named after the compute instance that owns them.

In this example, select the “first-instance” port and click “Associate”:

../_images/manage-floating-ip.png

Connect to the new instance

First you must set the Administrator password. To do this, go to the “Instances” section, click on first-instance under “Instance Name” and select the “Console” tab.

Once the following screen loads, click on OK to continue.

Firewall rules required to allow access to the console in the cloud dashboard

Note

If the console shown in the image below fails to load or you see errors on this page please ensure that your local machine and/or corporate firewall is allowing the following traffic.

port

  • 6080 (TCP)

for the following Catalyst Cloud API hosts

  • nz-por-1: 202.78.247.202

  • nz-hlz-1: 202.78.244.90

  • nz_wlg_2: 202.78.240.218 & 2404:130:20:2::218

../_images/fi-windows-login.png

You will then be prompted by the following screen to create a new administrator password.

../_images/fi-windows-login-2.png

Upon completion of this step, it will be possible to connect to this instance with an RDP application. Connect via the floating public IP that you associated with your instance in the previous step. This address is visible in the Instances list and under the Floating IPs tab in Access & Security.