Machine type
A machine type is a predefined virtual-machine configuration specifying the compute, memory, storage, networking, and related resources available to an instance.
Infrastructure as Code, Patterns and Practices: With examples in Python and Terraform
A machine type is a predefined cloud virtual-machine configuration specifying the computational resources allocated to an instance.
- How it is used
- Controls virtual-machine capacity and cloud spending through infrastructure-as-code validation and cost checks.
- How deep it goes
- Explains vCPU and memory sizing, provider lookups, IaC parsing, and policy tests, but omits complete provider catalog details.
- Examples
- Uses a 32-vCPU production limit, n2d-standard-16 servers, GCP catalog queries, and a $4,500 monthly compute budget.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via Python, provider APIs, and IaC tests to enforce capacity limits and estimate machine-related spending.
Terraform in Depth: Infrastructure as Code with Terraform and OpenTofu
An instance type is a cloud virtual-machine specification that determines its available compute, memory, networking, and related capacity.
- How it is used
- Uses machine types to select suitable compute capacity while reusing Terraform modules across workloads and deployments.
- How deep it goes
- Defines CPU and memory implications and demonstrates Terraform variable wiring, but does not compare machine families or performance characteristics.
- Examples
- Demonstrates t3.micro as a testing default and shows a variable-driven aws_instance configuration.
- What you can do after
- Operate/configure Terraform modules by choosing an instance type without modifying their resource definitions.
Related concepts
- virtual machineconfigures · A virtual machine is a software-based environment that emulates or implements an abstract computer system, providing an interface on which an operating system or programs can execute.
- database instanceconfigures · A database instance is a distinct running or provisioned database environment with its own managed data, configuration, and allocated resources.
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