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Creating a Network

Network Creation

This guide walks you through the process of creating a new network in your cloud environment. Networks can be created for various purposes, from hosting public-facing web services to creating private internal communication channels between your instances.

Quick Create

The fastest way to create a network is using the "Get me a network" feature:

  • Navigate to Networks from the main menu
  • Click the Get me a network button
  • Select your desired region
  • Click Create

This will automatically create: * A network named 'auto_allocated_network' * A router named 'auto_allocated_router' with external gateway * An interface connecting to your new network

Custom Network Creation

For more control over your network configuration:

  • Navigate to Networks from the main menu
  • Click the Create network button
  • Fill in the network details:
    • Name: Choose a descriptive name (e.g., 'production-web')
    • Region: Select the region for your network
    • Description: (Optional) Add details about the network's purpose
    • Create Subnet: Check if you want to create a subnet immediately

Subnet Configuration

If you chose to create a subnet:

  • Name: Enter a name for your subnet
  • Network Address: Choose a CIDR range (e.g., 10.0.0.0/24)
  • Gateway IP: (Optional) Specify a custom gateway IP
  • Disable Gateway: Option to create subnet without a gateway
  • DHCP: Enable/disable DHCP for automatic IP assignment

Advanced Options

Additional configuration options include:

  • DNS Servers: Specify custom DNS servers
  • Host Routes: Add specific routing rules
  • Allocation Pools: Define IP ranges for instance assignment
  • IPv6: Enable IPv6 addressing if needed

Network Creation Best Practices

Naming Convention

  • Use clear, descriptive names
  • Include environment (e.g., prod, dev, test)
  • Consider including purpose (e.g., web, db, internal)

IP Range Planning

  • Use appropriate CIDR ranges for your needs
  • Plan for future growth
  • Avoid overlapping with other networks

Security Considerations

  • Create separate networks for different security zones
  • Consider implementing network isolation
  • Plan security group rules in advance

Post-Creation Steps

After creating your network:

Verify Configuration

  • Check network status
  • Confirm subnet creation
  • Test connectivity if applicable

Add Security Groups

  • Configure inbound rules
  • Set up outbound rules
  • Apply to instances as needed

Documentation

  • Record network configuration
  • Document any custom settings
  • Update network diagrams if necessary

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions:

Network Creation Fails

  • Verify region availability
  • Check quota limits
  • Ensure CIDR range is valid

Connectivity Issues

  • Verify router configuration
  • Check security group rules
  • Confirm subnet settings

DNS Problems

  • Verify DNS server configuration
  • Check network connectivity
  • Confirm instance DNS settings