> 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/dcd-how-tos/set-up-cube.md).

# Set Up a Cube

### Create a Cube

1\. Drag the **Cube** element from the **Palette** into the **Workspace**.

2\. Click the **Cube** element to highlight it. The **Inspector** will appear on the right.

![Drag the Cube element from the Palette into the Workspace. Highlighting it opens the Inspector on the right](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-830d798cdc3838cf3c666f674b1ee00186485375%2Fdrag_cube.png?alt=media)

3\. In the Inspector, configure your **Cube** from the **Settings** tab.

* **Name:** Your choice is recommended to be unique to this [<mark style="color:blue;">Virtual Data Center (VDC)</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#vdc)<mark style="color:blue;">.</mark>
* **Template:** choose the appropriate configuration template.
* **vCPUs:** set automatically when a Template is chosen.
* **RAM in GB:** set automatically when a Template is chosen.
* **Storage in GB:** set automatically when a Template is chosen.

4\. You will also notice that the **Cube** comes with an **Unnamed Direct Attached Storage**. Click on the [<mark style="color:blue;">storage</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#storage) device and rename it in the Inspector.

![Highlight the Direct Attached Storage element within the Cube and configure the storage device from the Inspector pane](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-fe38794438a599328d8c0c1b532f641c92787cf1%2Fhighlight_cloud.png?alt=media\&token=bbf7a295-0d35-4c55-aebb-44421ed1fe9a)

* **Name:** Your choice is recommended to be unique to this Virtual Data Center (VDC).
* **Size in GB:** Specify the required storage capacity.
* **Image:** You can select one of IONOS' images or use your own.
* **Password:** The combination should be between 8 and 50 characters in length; using only Latin characters and numbers.
* **Backup Unit:** Backs up all data with version history to local storage or your private cloud storage.

### Add more Storage

1\. Drop a **Storage** element from the Palette onto a **Cube** in the Workspace to connect both.

![Drag an additional HDD from the Palette onto a Cube in the Workspace. A separate configuration is available](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e823cc8612691ed6ed2867ae209591c85bbb45d6%2Fdrag_additional_cube.png?alt=media)

2\. In the Inspector, configure your **Storage** device in the **Settings** tab.

* **Name:** Your choice is recommended to be unique to this Virtual Data Center (VDC).
* **Availability Zone:** Choose the Zone where you wish to host the **Storage** device.
* **Size in GB:** Specify the required storage capacity for the [<mark style="color:blue;">SSD</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#ssd).
* **Performance:** Depends on the size of the SSD.
* **Image:** You can select one of IONOS' images or use your own.
* **Password:** The combination should be between 8 and 50 characters in length; using only Latin characters and numbers.
* **Backup Unit:** Backs up all data with version history to local storage or your private cloud storage.

### Connect to the internet

1\. Each compute instance has a **NIC**, which is activated via the **Autoport** symbol. Connect the **Cube** to the **Internet** by dragging a line from the Cube's **Autoport** to the Internet's **NIC**.

![Connect the Cube to the Internet and configure the network from the Network tab of the Inspector](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-de360f194c9f72b82fef82eec424ed1fc8d0f4fb%2Fconnect_cube.png?alt=media)

2\. In the Inspector, configure your **LAN** device in the **Network** tab.

* **Name:** Your choice is recommended to be unique to this Virtual Data Center (VDC).
* **MAC:** The MAC address will be assigned automatically upon provisioning.
* **Primary IP:** The primary [<mark style="color:blue;">IP address</mark>](#create-a-cube) is automatically assigned by the IONOS DHCP [<mark style="color:blue;">server</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#server). You can, however, enter an IP address for manual assignment by selecting one of the reserved IPs from the drop-down menu. Private IP addresses should be entered manually. The [<mark style="color:blue;">NIC</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#nic) has to be connected to the Internet.
* **Failover:** If you have an HA setup including a failover configuration on your VMs, you can create and manage IP failover groups that support your HA setup.
* **Firewall:** Configure a firewall.
* **DHCP:** It is often necessary to run a DHCP server in your virtual data center (e.g. PXE boot for fast rollout of VMs). If you use your own DHCP server, clear this checkbox so that your IPs are not reassigned by the IONOS DHCP server.
* **Additional IPs:** In order to use "floating" or virtual IPs, you can assign additional IPs to a NIC by selecting them from the drop-down menu.

### Suspend a Cube

**1.** Choose a Cube. From the **Settings** tab in the Inspector, select **Power** > **Suspend**.

**2.** *(**Optional**)* In the dialog that appears, connect using Remote Console and shut down the VM at the operating system level to prevent data loss.

**3.** Confirm your action by checking the appropriate box and clicking **Apply SUSPEND**.

**4.** Provision your changes. Confirm the action by entering your password.

{% hint style="success" %}
**Result:** The Cube is suspended but not deleted.
{% endhint %}

### Resume a Cube

**1.** Choose a Cube. From the **Settings** tab in the Inspector, select **Power** > **Resume**.

**2.** Confirm your action by checking the appropriate box and clicking **Apply RESUME**.

**3.** Provision your changes. Confirm the action by entering your password.

{% hint style="success" %}
**Result:** The Cube is resumed.
{% endhint %}

![Inspector pane](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-96927223c606a34b1e7aa6173b99d0566df875ae%2Fsuspend_option.png?alt=media) ![Power State alert](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-65dea4b57c17747848c2b8f11b43d12f1e7ed80e%2Fapply_suspend.png?alt=media)

The server is switched off. CPU, RAM, and [<mark style="color:blue;">IP addresses</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/support/general-information/glossary-of-terms#ip-address) are released and billing is suspended. Connected storage devices will still be billed. Reserved IP addresses are not removed from the server. The deallocated virtual machine is marked by a red cross in DCD.

### Provision Changes

1\. Start the provisioning process by clicking **PROVISION CHANGES** in the Inspector.

![Finalize your Cube setup](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-bfec920b09c16ce7b6394af0c4c38d7553587319%2Fprovision_changes.png?alt=media) ![Click Provision Now once you have resolved all errors](https://1737632334-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MifAzdGvKLDTtvJP8sm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a5d9959d5741bfa7165ffa52070bbeab68df0a44%2Fprovision_data_center.png?alt=media)

2\. The **Provision Data Center** dialog opens. Review your changes in the **Validation** tab.

3\. **Confirm** changes with your password. **Resolve** outstanding errors without a password.

4\. Once ready, click **Provision Now** to start provisioning resources.

{% hint style="success" %}
**Result:** The data center is now provisioned with the new Cube. DCD will display a **Provisioning Complete** notification once your cloud infrastructure is ready.
{% endhint %}


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