Getting an Ubuntu Machine Using OCI Always Free
This time, I tried getting an Ubuntu machine using the Always Free tier of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). Free cloud services are very appealing, but since there were a few things to watch out for during setup, I wanted to share the details!
What is Always Free?
OCI’s Always Free is a service that allows you to use specific resources free of charge. The details of what is available for free are described in detail in the official documentation below:
🔗 Click here for details on Always Free
The free tier includes compute instances (virtual machines) such as the following:
- VM.Standard.E2.1.Micro
- Up to 1 OCPU, 1 GB RAM instance
- VM.Standard.A1.Flex
- Customizable up to 4 OCPUs, 24 GB RAM (free up to 1 OCPU, 6 GB RAM within the Always Free tier)
Notes on the Tokyo Region
This time, I created the instance by selecting the Tokyo region.
- VM.Standard.E2.1.Micro is available without any issues.
- VM.Standard.A1.Flex may sometimes fail to create due to a lack of resources (I wasn’t able to create one either).
If you try in other regions, you might be able to use VM.Standard.A1.Flex, but please be careful when choosing a region.
OS Options
When creating an instance, you can select from operating systems such as:
- Oracle Linux
- Ubuntu
- RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux)
- Custom images
This time I chose Ubuntu, which I’m familiar with, but being able to choose the OS according to your use case is a major advantage.
Notes on Volume Size and Pricing
In the Always Free tier, up to 200 GB of block storage is free. However, there are some points to keep in mind when creating an instance:
- The default boot volume size assigned is 50 GB.
- Even at this size, it is within the free tier, but the creation screen may display “Estimated Cost: 297.50 JPY/month".
- Don’t be alarmed by the displayed cost.
- In reality, volumes eligible for Always Free are not billed. The estimated cost can be misleading, but rest assured that it is included in the free tier.
Conclusion
This time, I tried creating an Ubuntu machine using OCI’s Always Free tier. Here are the key takeaways:
- There are two types of free virtual machines available—VM.Standard.E2.1.Micro and VM.Standard.A1.Flex—which you can choose according to your needs.
- In the Tokyo region, VM.Standard.A1.Flex might not be available, so considering other regions is a good idea.
- The default 50 GB boot volume size is fine; don’t be misled by the estimated cost display, and just make sure it falls under Always Free eligibility.
Cloud machines available for free are extremely convenient as an alternative to running servers at home! I hope this is helpful for anyone thinking about trying out OCI.
Thank you for reading to the end! If you have any questions or thoughts, please let me know in the comments ✨