> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.usenubis.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create an Instance

> Step-by-step guide to creating compute instances

## Create via Dashboard

1. Navigate to **Instances** in your dashboard
2. Click the **"Create Instance"** button
3. Configure your instance settings
4. Review and launch

## Configuration Options

### Operating System

Choose from:

* **Ubuntu** (20.04 LTS, 22.04 LTS)
* **Debian** (10, 11)
* **CentOS** (7, 8)
* **Custom Images**: Upload your own ISO

### Instance Size

Select based on your workload:

```24:45:services/instances/overview.mdx theme={null}
<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="General Purpose">
    Balanced CPU and RAM for most applications
    - 1GB to 32GB RAM
    - 1 to 16 vCPUs
    - Starting at $5/month
  </Card>
  <Card title="CPU Optimized">
    High-performance instances for CPU-intensive workloads
    - 4GB to 64GB RAM
    - 4 to 32 vCPUs
    - Starting at $40/month
  </Card>
```

### Region Selection

Choose the closest region to your users:

* **US East** (New York)
* **US West** (San Francisco)
* **EU** (London)
* **Asia** (Singapore)

### Networking

* **Public IP**: Automatically assigned IPv4 address
* **Reserved IP**: Static IP that persists across reboots
* **Private Network**: Enable private networking between instances

## Create via API

Create an instance programmatically:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash curl theme={null}
  curl -X POST https://api.usenubis.com/v1/instances \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d '{
      "name": "my-instance",
      "image": "ubuntu-22-04",
      "size": "s-1vcpu-2gb",
      "region": "nyc1",
      "ssh_keys": ["key-id"]
    }'
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import requests

  headers = {
      "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
      "Content-Type": "application/json"
  }

  data = {
      "name": "my-instance",
      "image": "ubuntu-22-04",
      "size": "s-1vcpu-2gb",
      "region": "nyc1",
      "ssh_keys": ["key-id"]
  }

  response = requests.post(
      "https://api.usenubis.com/v1/instances",
      headers=headers,
      json=data
  )

  print(response.json())
  ```

  ```javascript JavaScript theme={null}
  const response = await fetch('https://api.usenubis.com/v1/instances', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
      'Content-Type': 'application/json'
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      name: 'my-instance',
      image: 'ubuntu-22-04',
      size: 's-1vcpu-2gb',
      region: 'nyc1',
      ssh_keys: ['key-id']
    })
  });

  const instance = await response.json();
  console.log(instance);
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Post-Creation Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Access Your Instance">
    Connect via SSH using your public IP and key
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Firewall">
    Set up <a href="/networking/firewall/create-rules">firewall rules</a> to secure your instance
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install Software">
    Update packages and install your required software
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Manage Instance" icon="gear" href="/services/instances/manage">
    Learn about instance management operations
  </Card>

  <Card title="Backup Strategy" icon="floppy-disk" href="/services/instances/backup">
    Set up automated snapshots and backups
  </Card>
</CardGroup>