Elastic Compute Service:Create a spot instance with the ECS console, SDK, or Terraform

Create via the ECS console

1. Go to the instance creation page and select the Custom Launch tab.

2. Configure ECS resources based on your needs and the on-screen prompts.

   Note the following parameters. For other settings, see Custom launch instances.

   • Billing Method: Select Spot Instance.

   • Instance Usage Duration:

     • 1 Hour: The instance runs uninterrupted for one hour. After that, the system monitors inventory and bid changes to determine whether you can continue using it.

     • None: No fixed duration. This option often offers better pricing.

   • Maximum hourly price per instance:

     • Use Automatic Bid: Accept the current market price as your billing rate.

     • Set a maximum price: Set the highest hourly price you are willing to pay.

   • Instance Interruption Mode:

     • Release: The instance and its compute resources (vCPU, GPU, memory), static public IP, fixed bandwidth, and disks are released.

       Warning

       Spot instances aren't suitable for storing critical data. Choosing Instance Interruption Mode as Release may cause data loss. Disable disk release with instance termination or create disk snapshots regularly to protect your data.

     • Stop in Economical Mode: Compute resources (vCPU, GPU, memory), static public IP, and fixed bandwidth are reclaimed. Disks, Elastic IP Addresses, and snapshots are retained and continue to incur charges.

       Note

       A spot instance in economical mode may fail to restart due to insufficient inventory or a market price above your bid.

3. Review your configuration on the right side of the page, set usage options, and click Confirm Order.

Create via SDK

import com.aliyun.ecs20140526.Client;
import com.aliyun.teaopenapi.models.Config;

public class Sample {
    private static Client createClient() throws Exception {
        Config config = new Config()
                // Required. Ensure the environment variable ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_ID is set.
                .setAccessKeyId(System.getenv("ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_ID"))
                // Required. Ensure the environment variable ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_SECRET is set.
                .setAccessKeySecret(System.getenv("ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_SECRET"))
                // For Endpoint, see https://api.aliyun.com/product/Ecs
                .setEndpoint("ecs.cn-hangzhou.aliyuncs.com");
        return new Client(config);
    }
}

// Build the request object
RunInstancesRequest request = new RunInstancesRequest()
    // Set the region
    .setRegionId("cn-hangzhou")
    // Set billing method to pay-as-you-go
    .setInstanceChargeType("PostPaid")
    // Set bidding strategy to automatic
    .setSpotStrategy("SpotAsPriceGo")
    // Set 1-hour usage duration: guarantees the instance runs for 1 hour without release
    .setSpotDuration(1)
    // Set instance type
    .setInstanceType("instanceType")
    // Set image
    .setImageId("imageId")
    // Set security group ID
    .setSecurityGroupId("securityGroupId")
    // Set virtual switch ID
    .setVSwitchId("vSwitchId");

// Set runtime options
RuntimeOptions runtime = new RuntimeOptions();
// Call the RunInstances API
RunInstancesResponse response = client.runInstancesWithOptions(request, runtime);
System.out.println(response.body.toMap());

import com.aliyun.ecs20140526.Client;
import com.aliyun.ecs20140526.models.RunInstancesRequest;
import com.aliyun.ecs20140526.models.RunInstancesResponse;
import com.aliyun.ecs20140526.models.RunInstancesResponseBody;
import com.aliyun.tea.TeaException;
import com.aliyun.tea.TeaUnretryableException;
import com.aliyun.teaopenapi.models.Config;
import com.aliyun.teautil.models.RuntimeOptions;
import com.alibaba.fastjson.JSONArray;

import java.util.Arrays;

public class Sample {
    private static Client createClient() throws Exception {
        Config config = new Config()
                // Required. Ensure the environment variable ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_ID is set.
                .setAccessKeyId(System.getenv("ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_ID"))
                // Required. Ensure the environment variable ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_SECRET is set.
                .setAccessKeySecret(System.getenv("ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_SECRET"))
                // For Endpoint, see https://api.aliyun.com/product/Ecs
                .setEndpoint("ecs.cn-hangzhou.aliyuncs.com");
        return new Client(config);
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        try {
            Client client = Sample.createClient();
            // Build the request object
            RunInstancesRequest request = new RunInstancesRequest()
                    // Set the region
                    .setRegionId("cn-hangzhou")
                    // Set billing method to pay-as-you-go
                    .setInstanceChargeType("PostPaid")
                    // Set bidding strategy to automatic
                    .setSpotStrategy("SpotAsPriceGo")
                    // Set 1-hour usage duration: guarantees the instance runs for 1 hour without release
                    .setSpotDuration(1)
                    // Set instance type
                    .setInstanceType("instanceType")
                    // Set image
                    .setImageId("imageId")
                    // Set security group ID
                    .setSecurityGroupId("securityGroupId")
                    // Set virtual switch ID
                    .setVSwitchId("vSwitchId");
            // Set runtime options
            RuntimeOptions runtime = new RuntimeOptions();
            // Call the RunInstances API
            RunInstancesResponse response = client.runInstancesWithOptions(request, runtime);
            System.out.println(response.body.toMap());
        } catch (TeaUnretryableException ue) {
            // This example only prints exceptions. Handle exceptions carefully in production code—never ignore them.
            ue.printStackTrace();
            // Print error message
            System.out.println(ue.getMessage());
            // Print request details for debugging
            System.out.println(ue.getLastRequest());
        } catch (TeaException e) {
            // This example only prints exceptions. Handle exceptions carefully in production code—never ignore them.
            e.printStackTrace();
            // Print error code
            System.out.println(e.getCode());
            // Print error message (includes RequestId)
            System.out.println(e.getMessage());
            // Print detailed server-side error
            System.out.println(e.getData());
        } catch (Exception e) {
            // This example only prints exceptions. Handle exceptions carefully in production code—never ignore them.
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

Create via Terraform

Procedure

1. Open https://shell.aliyun.com and log on to Cloud Shell.

   For other ways to use Cloud Shell, see Use Cloud Shell.

2. Create a project folder named terraform and enter the directory.

   mkdir terraform
   cd terraform

3. Create a configuration file named main.tf with the following content:

   main.tf

   provider "alicloud" {
     region = var.region
   }
   
   # Region
   variable "region" {
     type    = string
     default = "cn-beijing"
   }
   
   # VPC name
   variable "vpc_name" {
     type    = string
     default = "tf_test_fofo"
   }
   
   # VPC CIDR block
   variable "vpc_cidr_block" {
     type    = string
     default = "172.16.0.0/12"
   }
   
   # vSwitch CIDR block
   variable "vswitch_cidr_block" {
     type    = string
     default = "172.16.0.0/21"
   }
   
   # Zone
   variable "availability_zone" {
     type    = string
     default = "cn-beijing-b"
   }
   
   # Security group name
   variable "security_group_name" {
     type    = string
     default = "default"
   }
   
   # Instance type
   variable "instance_type" {
     type    = string
     default = "ecs.n2.small"
   }
   
   # System disk category
   variable "system_disk_category" {
     type    = string
     default = "cloud_efficiency"
   }
   
   # OS image
   variable "image_id" {
     type    = string
     default = "ubuntu_140405_64_40G_cloudinit_20161115.vhd"
   }
   
   # Instance name
   variable "instance_name" {
     type    = string
     default = "test_fofo"
   }
   
   # Public bandwidth
   variable "internet_max_bandwidth_out" {
     type    = number
     default = 10
   }
   
   # Billing method
   variable "instance_charge_type" {
     type    = string
     default = "PostPaid"
   }
   
   # Spot instance bidding strategy
   variable "spot_strategy" {
     type    = string
     default = "SpotAsPriceGo"
   }
   
   # Spot instance reserved duration
   variable "spot_duration" {
     type    = number
     default = 0
   }
   
   # Inbound rule port range
   variable "port_range" {
     type    = string
     default = "1/65535"
   }
   
   # Inbound rule priority
   variable "priority" {
     type    = number
     default = 1
   }
   
   # Inbound rule CIDR
   variable "cidr_ip" {
     type    = string
     default = "0.0.0.0/0"
   }
   
   resource "alicloud_vpc" "vpc" {
     vpc_name   = var.vpc_name
     cidr_block = var.vpc_cidr_block
   }
   
   resource "alicloud_vswitch" "vsw" {
     vpc_id     = alicloud_vpc.vpc.id
     cidr_block = var.vswitch_cidr_block
     zone_id    = var.availability_zone
   }
   
   resource "alicloud_security_group" "default" {
     security_group_name = var.security_group_name
     vpc_id              = alicloud_vpc.vpc.id
   }
   
   resource "alicloud_instance" "instance" {
     availability_zone          = var.availability_zone
     security_groups            = [alicloud_security_group.default.id]
     instance_type              = var.instance_type
     system_disk_category       = var.system_disk_category
     image_id                   = var.image_id
     instance_name              = var.instance_name
     vswitch_id                 = alicloud_vswitch.vsw.id
     internet_max_bandwidth_out = var.internet_max_bandwidth_out
     instance_charge_type       = var.instance_charge_type
     spot_strategy              = var.spot_strategy
     spot_duration              = var.spot_duration
   }
   
   resource "alicloud_security_group_rule" "allow_all_tcp" {
     type              = "ingress"
     ip_protocol       = "tcp"
     nic_type          = "intranet"
     policy            = "accept"
     port_range        = var.port_range
     priority          = var.priority
     security_group_id = alicloud_security_group.default.id
     cidr_ip           = var.cidr_ip
   }

4. Run terraform init to initialize the configuration.

   

5. Run terraform apply. When prompted, enter yes and press Enter. If the following message appears, your spot instance is created.

   

6. Run terraform show to view details of the created resources.

   

terraform destroy