# Launch an instance from an image

Follow the steps below to launch an instance from an image.

1. After you gather required parameters, run the following command to launch an instance. Specify the server name, flavor ID, and image ID.

       $ openstack server create --flavor FLAVOR_ID --image IMAGE_ID --key-name KEY_NAME \
         --user-data USER_DATA_FILE --security-group SEC_GROUP_NAME --property KEY=VALUE \
         INSTANCE_NAME

   Optionally, you can provide a key name for access control and a security group for security. You can also include metadata key and value pairs. For example, you can add a description for your server by providing the `--property description="My Server"` parameter.

   You can pass user data in a local file at instance launch by using the `--user-data USER-DATA-FILE` parameter.

   Important

   If you boot an instance with an INSTANCE_NAME greater than 63 characters, Compute truncates it automatically when turning it into a host name to ensure the correct work of dnsmasq. The corresponding warning is written into the `neutron-dnsmasq.log` file.

   The following command launches the `MyCirrosServer` instance with the `m1.small` flavor (ID of `1`), `cirros-0.3.2-x86_64-uec` image (ID of `397e713c-b95b-4186-ad46-6126863ea0a9`), `default` security group, `KeyPair01` key, and a user data file called `cloudinit.file`:

       $ openstack server create --flavor 1 --image 397e713c-b95b-4186-ad46-6126863ea0a9 \
         --security-group default --key-name KeyPair01 --user-data cloudinit.file \
         myCirrosServer

   Depending on the parameters that you provide, the command returns a list of server properties.

       +--------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
       | Field                                | Value                                         |
       +--------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
       | OS-DCF:diskConfig                    | MANUAL                                        |
       | OS-EXT-AZ:availability_zone          |                                               |
       | OS-EXT-SRV-ATTR:host                 | None                                          |
       | OS-EXT-SRV-ATTR:hypervisor_hostname  | None                                          |
       | OS-EXT-SRV-ATTR:instance_name        |                                               |
       | OS-EXT-STS:power_state               | NOSTATE                                       |
       | OS-EXT-STS:task_state                | scheduling                                    |
       | OS-EXT-STS:vm_state                  | building                                      |
       | OS-SRV-USG:launched_at               | None                                          |
       | OS-SRV-USG:terminated_at             | None                                          |
       | accessIPv4                           |                                               |
       | accessIPv6                           |                                               |
       | addresses                            |                                               |
       | adminPass                            | E4Ksozt4Efi8                                  |
       | config_drive                         |                                               |
       | created                              | 2016-11-30T14:48:05Z                          |
       | flavor                               | m1.tiny                                       |
       | hostId                               |                                               |
       | id                                   | 89015cc9-bdf1-458a-8518-fdca2b4a5785          |
       | image                                | cirros (397e713c-b95b-4186-ad46-6126863ea0a9) |
       | key_name                             | KeyPair01                                     |
       | name                                 | myCirrosServer                                |
       | os-extended-volumes:volumes_attached | []                                            |
       | progress                             | 0                                             |
       | project_id                           | 5669caad86a04256994cdf755df4d3c1              |
       | properties                           |                                               |
       | security_groups                      | [{u'name': u'default'}]                       |
       | status                               | BUILD                                         |
       | updated                              | 2016-11-30T14:48:05Z                          |
       | user_id                              | c36cec73b0e44876a4478b1e6cd749bb              |
       | metadata                             | {u'KEY': u'VALUE'}                            |
       +--------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+

   A status of `BUILD` indicates that the instance has started, but is not yet online.

   A status of `ACTIVE` indicates that the instance is active.

2. Copy the server ID value from the `id` field in the output. Use the ID to get server details or to delete your server.

3. Copy the administrative password value from the `adminPass` field. Use the password to log in to your server.

4. Check if the instance is online.

       $ openstack server list

   The list shows the ID, name, status, and private (and if assigned, public) IP addresses for all instances in the project to which you belong:

       +-------------+----------------------+--------+------------+-------------+------------------+------------+
       | ID          | Name                 | Status | Task State | Power State | Networks         | Image Name |
       +-------------+----------------------+--------+------------+-------------+------------------+------------+
       | 84c6e57d... | myCirrosServer       | ACTIVE | None       | Running     | private=10.0.0.3 | cirros     |
       | 8a99547e... | myInstanceFromVolume | ACTIVE | None       | Running     | private=10.0.0.4 | centos     |
       +-------------+----------------------+--------+------------+-------------+------------------+------------+

   If the status for the instance is ACTIVE, the instance is online.

5. To view the available options for the openstack server list command, run the following command:

       $ openstack help server list

   Note

   If you did not provide a key pair, security groups, or rules, you can access the instance only from inside the cloud through VNC. Even pinging the instance is not possible.

this page last updated: 2026-04-21 19:00:00

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