> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/~/revisions/AMiYziCllTKB2y2lmONY/compute-services/cubes/cubes.md).

# Overview

A [<mark style="color:blue;">Cube</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#cloud-cubes) is a [<mark style="color:blue;">virtual machine</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#virtual-machine-vms) with an attached NVMe Volume. Each Cube you create is a new virtual machine you can use, either standalone or in combination with other IONOS Cloud products. For more information, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Cubes</mark>](/cloud/~/revisions/AMiYziCllTKB2y2lmONY/compute-services/cubes/cubes-faq.md).

You can create and configure your Cubes visually using the [<mark style="color:blue;">DCD</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#dcd) interface. For more information, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Set Up a Cube</mark>](/cloud/~/revisions/AMiYziCllTKB2y2lmONY/compute-services/cubes/dcd-how-tos/set-up-cube.md). However, the creation and management of Cubes are easily automated via the [<mark style="color:blue;">Cloud API</mark>](#configuration-templates), as well as our custom-made tools and [<mark style="color:blue;">SDKs</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#sdk).

### Configuration templates

You may choose between eight template sizes. Each template varies by processor, memory, and storage capacity. The breakdown of resources is as follows:

|   Size  |  vCPUs |    RAM    | NVMe storage |
| :-----: | :----: | :-------: | :----------: |
|  **XS** |  **1** |  **1 GB** |   **30 GB**  |
|  **S**  |  **1** |  **2 GB** |   **50 GB**  |
|  **M**  |  **2** |  **4 GB** |   **80 GB**  |
|  **L**  |  **4** |  **8 GB** |  **160 GB**  |
|  **XL** |  **6** | **16 GB** |  **320 GB**  |
| **XXL** |  **8** | **32 GB** |  **640 GB**  |
| **3XL** | **12** | **48 GB** |  **960 GB**  |
| **4XL** | **16** | **64 GB** |  **1280 GB** |

{% hint style="warning" %}
Configuration templates are set upon provisioning and cannot subsequently be changed.
{% endhint %}

### Resource usage

**Counters:** The use of Cubes' vCPU, RAM, and NVMe storage resources counts into existing [<mark style="color:blue;">VDC</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#vdc) resource usage. However, dedicated resource usage counters are enabled for Cubes. These counters permit granular monitoring of vCPUs and NVMe storage, which differ from Dedicated Core Servers for the enterprise VM instances and [<mark style="color:blue;">SSD</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#ssd) block storage.

**Billing:** Please note that suspended Cubes continue to incur costs. If you do not delete unused instances, you will continue to be charged for usage. Save on costs by creating snapshots of [<mark style="color:blue;">NVMe volumes</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#nvme-volume) that you do not immediately need and delete unused instances. At a later time, use these snapshots to recreate identical Cubes as needed. Please note that recreated instances may be assigned a different [<mark style="color:blue;">IP address</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#ip-address).

### Storage options

**Included direct-attached storage:** A default Cube comes ready with a high-speed direct-attached NVMe storage volume. Please check Configuration Templates for NVMe Storage sizes.

**Add-on network block storage:** You may attach more [<mark style="color:blue;">HDD</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#hdd) or [<mark style="color:blue;">SSD</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#ssd) (Standard or Premium) block storage. Each Cube supports up to 23 block storage devices in addition to the existing NVMe volume. Added HDD and SSD devices, as well as CD-ROMs, can be unmounted and deleted any time after the Cube is provisioned for use.

**Boot options:** Any storage device, including the CD-ROM, can be selected as the boot volume. You may also boot from the network.

**Images and snapshots:** Images and snapshots can be created from and copied to direct-attached storage, block storage devices, and CD-ROM drives. Also, direct-attached storage volume snapshots and block storage volumes can be used interchangeably

### Data Security

IONOS provides Direct Attached Storage (DAS) for Cube instances, offering NVMe volumes on the same physical host as the Cube. For DAS volumes created after feature availability, IONOS implements encryption at rest and secure deletion, mirroring the [<mark style="color:blue;">security features</mark>](/cloud/~/revisions/AMiYziCllTKB2y2lmONY/storage-and-backup/block-storage/overview/security.md) of Block Storage.

Encryption at rest protects inactive data on physical media. DAS uses the same encryption technology as Block Storage, AES-XTS (256-bit) encryption method. Each volume has a unique, securely stored encryption key that is inaccessible to root users.

Secure deletion ensures that deleted data cannot be restored, even with physical media access. When a DAS volume is deleted:

* Metadata is "zeroed out," destroying the block mapping.
* The volume's encryption key is destroyed, making any remaining encrypted data unreadable.

### Limitations

Cubes are limited to a maximum of 24 devices. The NVMe volume already occupies one of these slots.

You may not change the properties of a configuration template (vCPU, RAM, and direct-attached storage size) after the Cube is provisioned.

The direct-attached NVMe storage volume is set upon provisioning and cannot be unmounted or deleted from the instance.

{% hint style="info" %}
If available account resources are not sufficient for your tasks, please contact our support team to increase resource limits for your account.
{% endhint %}


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