Compute Nest:FAQ

What is Compute Nest?

Compute Nest is a cloud integration Platform as a Service (PaaS) platform built for independent software vendors (ISVs), system integrators (SIs), and managed service providers (MSPs). It helps these service providers integrate their products and services with Alibaba Cloud using cloud-native capabilities for delivery, deployment, and ongoing management -- including scaling, upgrades, vulnerability management, and managed O&M. End users can also use Compute Nest to manage the software services they subscribe to on Alibaba Cloud.

Is Compute Nest free?

Yes. Compute Nest itself is free and does not collect commissions on software sales. However, fees for Alibaba Cloud Marketplace products or underlying cloud resources may apply separately. For details, see Billing.

What types of software does Compute Nest support?

Compute Nest supports all vendors that provide standard software products, along with SaaS and PaaS vendors. It supports deployments on bare metal, virtual machines, and containers, and provides capabilities for rapid delivery, deployment, O&M, and transforming traditional software into a SaaS model.

How does automatic delivery in Compute Nest differ from using ROS or Terraform directly?

The automatic delivery capability is built on Resource Orchestration Service (ROS) and also supports service templates that use Terraform syntax. However, automatic delivery is only one feature. Compute Nest also provides ongoing management capabilities such as application environment scaling, software upgrades, and managed O&M.

What are the differences among private deployment services, fully managed services, and Alibaba Cloud Managed Services?

These three service types differ in where resources are deployed and who manages them:

• Private deployment service: Cloud resources are deployed in the end user's environment.

• Fully managed service: Cloud resources are deployed in the service provider's environment.

• Alibaba Cloud Managed Services: No software deployment is involved. The service provider offers O&M services for the end user's existing software environment.

For more information, see Overview of service publishing.

Is Compute Nest the same as Alibaba Cloud Marketplace?

No. Compute Nest simplifies the technical integration of service provider products with Alibaba Cloud and delivers software as a SaaS-style service so that end users can quickly get services. Alibaba Cloud Marketplace is a storefront for selling products. Service providers can publish products deployed on Compute Nest to Alibaba Cloud Marketplace, but this is optional.

How do I check whether I have service provider permissions?

If you are a Compute Nest service provider, the navigation pane on the left side of the Compute Nest console displays options to switch to the service provider view and configure service provider information. If you see only the user view, click Register with Compute Nest to apply for service provider access.

Does deploying a service to Compute Nest require application changes?

It depends on whether your software already supports automated deployment:

• Automated deployment supported: No application changes are required. Compute Nest works by writing the deployment environment and steps into a template in YAML or JSON format, which enables automatic resource creation and application deployment.

• Automated deployment not supported: Application changes are needed to enable automation.

How long does it take to publish a service?

Publishing involves two phases:

1. Service creation (configuring service content): typically 2 weeks to 1 month, depending on application complexity.

2. Service publishing (review and release): 1 to 3 business days.

Compute Nest provides common service templates and detailed video tutorials to help service providers create services more easily.

Where can I find training tutorials?

The official Compute Nest documentation provides detailed descriptions of product features and video tutorials. For a quick start guide, see Quick start for service providers.

Which Alibaba Cloud products does Compute Nest support?

Compute Nest supports calls to all Alibaba Cloud products. For the full list, see Resource type index.

Must services on Compute Nest be published to Alibaba Cloud Marketplace?

No. Service providers can choose whether to publish to Alibaba Cloud Marketplace. You can list services on the Marketplace, deliver through your own channels, or distribute through sales channels connected to Compute Nest.

How can DingTalk ISVs connect to the DingTalk Open Platform through Compute Nest?

DingTalk ISVs can use Compute Nest to manage application environments and meet the deployment requirements of the DingTalk Open Platform. ISVs no longer need to deploy application environments separately on DingTalk Cloud. For more information, see Application deployment.

How can DingTalk ISVs migrate from DingTalk Cloud to Compute Nest?

Service providers who have already deployed application environments on DingTalk Cloud can migrate to Compute Nest to reduce O&M costs and improve the O&M experience. This migration does not involve development or application changes and does not affect existing users. For details, see DingTalk Cloud to Compute Nest migration solution.

How do I enable multi-region deployment using images?

Use the image distribution feature. This feature supports private services that use custom images or Alibaba Cloud Marketplace images for multi-region deployment. For details, see ECS image association.

How does Compute Nest ensure end user data security in a managed service scenario?

Compute Nest protects end user data across three phases:

1. Before authorization: Service providers must first obtain authorization from the end user. The user can grant permanent authorization or authorization for a specific time window.

2. During service: The user can revoke the service provider's permissions at any time if necessary.

3. After service: The user can review operation logs and managed O&M recordings to audit the service provider's operational compliance.

Can managed service permissions for a private deployment service be granted to other service providers?

Yes. Managed service permissions are not limited to the original service provider. They can also be granted to other service providers.

Can a service instance be opened to multiple partners for managed O&M simultaneously?

Yes. The end user can check the log information to determine which service provider performed a specific operation.

Can managed service permissions granted to a service provider be revoked?

Yes. The end user can enable or disable the managed service permissions at any time within the authorization time window.

What do I do if a service instance fails to deploy?

On the service instance details page, check the Status Description field in the Instance Information section.

Common errors: The Status Description field displays an error message and a link to a solution. The following table lists common deployment failure causes and solutions.

Uncommon errors: The Status Description field highlights the error code. Click the error code to open the Alibaba Cloud Error Center, view the meaning and originating product, and modify the deployment parameters accordingly.

Further troubleshooting: Click View Deployment Logs to view the resource deployment logs. Locate the request ID in the error message for the failed resource, then use the Alibaba Cloud OpenAPI Diagnostics tool to identify the error.

How do I redeploy a service instance?

Two options:

• Continue the deployment on the failed instance: After modifying the deployment parameters, go to the Service Instance page, find the service instance, and click Continue Deployment in the Actions column. Alternatively, click the service instance ID to open the details page and click Continue Deployment.

• Delete the failed instance and create a new one: Follow the same steps as creating a service instance. For details, see Create a private deployment service instance.

What do I do if a service instance stays in the Deploying state for a long time?

First, confirm the estimated deployment time for the service. If the elapsed time is close to or within the estimate, wait for the deployment to complete. If the elapsed time significantly exceeds the estimate, submit a ticket or join the Compute Nest technical support DingTalk group (ID: 4005011081) for assistance.

What do I do if a service instance is unusable after a successful deployment?

Some service instances require manual configuration after deployment before they can be used. Check the deployment document of the service instance for post-deployment steps.

What do I do if a service instance fails to be deleted?

On the service instance details page, check the Status Description field in the Instance Information section.

Common errors: The Status Description field displays an error message and a link to a solution. The most common cause is that the service instance contains subscription resources. To resolve this:

1. On the service instance details page, click Resources to open the Resources tab.

2. In the Billing Method column, find resources with the subscription billing method and check their expiration dates in the Expiration Date column.

3. Resolve the issue using one of these approaches:

   • Wait for expiration: Delete the service instance after the subscription resources expire. Disable auto-renewal for these resources in advance.

   • Change the billing method: Navigate to the console of the corresponding resource to change its billing method to pay-as-you-go, then return to the Compute Nest console to delete the service instance. Only some resources support this change. See the list of resources supporting billing method changes below.

   • Unsubscribe: Unsubscribe from the resource in its product console. For the applicable rules, see Unsubscription rules for the international site.

Uncommon errors: The Status Description field highlights the error code. Click the error code to open the Alibaba Cloud Error Center, view the meaning and originating product, and modify the deployment information accordingly.

Further troubleshooting: On the Service Instance Details page, click View Deployment Logs to view the resource deployment logs. Locate the request ID in the error message for the failed resource deletion, then use the Alibaba Cloud OpenAPI Diagnostics tool to identify the error.

How do I upgrade the version of a Palworld service instance on Compute Nest?

The latest Palworld service instances provide a visual management interface for modifying game configurations, restarting the game, and managing saved data. To upgrade an older instance to the latest version:

• Version v25 to v62: Upgrade to v63. For instructions, see https://developer.aliyun.com/article/1432648.

• Version v24 or earlier: Migrate to Compute Nest again to automatically update to the latest version. See https://developer.aliyun.com/article/1429706. Back up your data before migration.

• Manual or ECS extension (OOS) setup: Migrate to Compute Nest using the same migration tutorial linked above.

These are server upgrades, not game version upgrades.