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Introduction to Google Cloud Platform (GCP)#

What is Google Cloud Platform?#

Google Cloud Platform is a suite of cloud computing services offered by Google, providing a wide range of infrastructure and application services that can be accessed on-demand. It enables users to build, deploy, and scale applications seamlessly while taking advantage of Google’s powerful and reliable infrastructure.

Why Use GCP?#

  • Scalability: Easily scale resources up or down based on workload.
  • Pay-as-You-Go: Only pay for what you use.
  • Integration: Connect seamlessly with open-source and enterprise tools.
  • Global Infrastructure: High-speed global network for faster operations.

How to Use GCP#

Prerequisites:

  • Ensure you have an active Google account.
  • Confirm that your account has been added to the relevant GCP project.

To access and use Google Cloud Platform (GCP), follow these steps:

Accessing GCP via the Cloud Console#

  • Visit the Google Cloud Console.
  • Explore the dashboard to view, manage, and configure services, projects, and resources.

Accessing GCP via Terminal#

To interact with GCP directly from your terminal:

  1. Initialize Google Cloud SDK

    • Install the Google Cloud SDK on your machine by following the official installation guide, then use the following command:

      gcloud init

    • Follow the prompts to authenticate, select your project, and configure the settings.

  2. Authenticate Your Terminal

    • Run the following command to authenticate:

      gcloud auth login

    • This opens a browser window asking you to log in with your Google account.

    • After login, your terminal will be authenticated, and you’ll see a confirmation message.

  3. Set the Active Project

    • Ensure the correct project is set as the active one.

      gcloud config set project <PROJECT_ID>

    • Replace <PROJECT_ID> with your GCP project ID (e.g., bhklabproject-123).

    • Verify the active project:

      gcloud config list project

Commonly Used GCP Services#

Below are some key Google Cloud Platform (GCP) services that can be used for your project:

  • Google Cloud Storage (GCS) - Scalable and secure object storage for data files, datasets, and ML-ready data
  • BigQuery - SQL-based data warehouse for processing and analyzing large datasets
  • Cloud SQL - Fully-managed relational database service for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Microsoft SQL Server
  • Virtual Machines (VMs) - Scalable, on-demand virtual machines for running custom ML experiments
  • Artifact Registry - Fully-managed service for storing and managing container images and software artifacts

Each service page provides detailed information about why to use the service and step-by-step setup instructions.