Application Scenarios

• Code development: You can create a limited-time free notebook instance to compile code for building models.
• Service experience: As beginners, if you want to experience the Notebook function of ModelArts, you can use the free flavors for a limited period of time.
• Model building with low performance requirements: If your data volume is small and the requirement for model training performance is not high, you can use a limited-time free notebook instance to build a model. This greatly reduces your costs.

Declaration for Free Flavors

• An account can create a maximum of two free notebook instances, one CPU-based flavor and one GPU-based flavor. You cannot create two free CPU-based or GPU-based flavors.
• Free flavors are used for trials and will automatically stop in one hour. If they are not started again within 72 hours, they will be released. Back up your files in advance.
• Limited-time free flavors do not include OBS or EVS storage resources. For details about OBS pricing, see OBS Pricing Details. EVS provides 5 GB free storage. The limited-time free notebook instances do not support EVS with over 5 GB storage.
• Limited-time free flavors provide limited performance. If your data volume is large or model training requires high performance, you are advised to use notebook instances with higher specifications.
• The free flavors are limited. If there are a large number of users, you must wait in a queue for a long time. For better experience, you are advised to select a pay-per-use flavor.
• Free flavors are available only in the CN North-Beijing4 region.

Creating a Free Notebook Instance

1. Log in to the ModelArts management console and choose DevEnviron > Notebooks from the left navigation pane.
2. Click Create. The Create Notebook page is displayed.
3. Set parameters as prompted or by referring to Creating and Opening a Notebook Instance. If you want to use the notebook of a free flavor, after selecting the CPU or GPU type, select the flavor marked with Limited-time free. Read the message carefully and select I have read and agree to the above.

   The following two free flavors are available: CPU type, 2 vCPUs | 4 GiB and GPU type, GPU: 1 x P100 CPU: 8 vCPUs | 64 GiB

   

   If ModelArts resources are insufficient due to a large number of users, you need to wait in a queue when creating a limited-time free notebook instance. The estimated waiting time is displayed on the page. You are queued for the free flavors only. After you have successfully obtained the free resources, click Start in the Operation column. You can use the notebook instance after it is successfully started. If the notebook instance is not started in 5 minutes, the resources are released for other users.

   Figure 1 Creating a free notebook instance
   
4. Click Next. Complete the notebook instance creation as prompted.
5. After the limited-time free notebook instance is created, it is marked with Limited-time free in the notebook list.
   Figure 2 Limited-time free notebook instance
   

Stopping or Starting a Notebook Instance

• After a limited-time free notebook instance is stopped, all data in the non-mount directory is deleted. If an EVS disk is used, only data in the /home/ma-user/work directory (EVS mount path) is saved. If OBS is used, your code files or data are still stored in the corresponding directories and will not be deleted.
• Limited-time free notebook instances that have been stopped can be restarted. If ModelArts resources are insufficient due to a large number of users, you need to wait in a queue for available resource when restarting a limited-time free notebook instance. After you have successfully obtained the free resources, click Start in the Operation column. You can use the notebook instance after it is successfully started. If the notebook instance is not started in 5 minutes, the resources are released for other users.
• The restarted notebook instance automatically stops in one hour.