Purchasing ECSs Using Auto Launch Groups

Scenarios

If you need to batch create multiple ECSs with different instance specifications, billing modes, and AZs, you can use auto launch groups. Auto launch groups provide two methods to purchase ECSs: launch templates and auto launch groups.

• Launch template: A tool for quick purchase of ECSs. It contains the basic configuration required to create ECSs. You can use a launch template to quickly purchase multiple ECSs with the same configurations, reducing repeated configurations.

  For details, see Overview.

• Auto launch group: A new method to obtain compute capacity. After you create an auto launch group, the system automatically creates ECSs in bulk across different AZs, billing modes, and instance types based on your configuration. This ensures efficient compute delivery and high service availability.

  For details, see Overview.

This section describes how to use a launch template or auto launch group to batch create ECSs on the management console.

Billing

Launch templates and auto launch groups are free, but ECSs created through them are billed normally.

For details about billing rules, see Billing Modes. For details about prices, see ECS Product Pricing Details.

Constraints

• Auto launch groups are available in the AP-Singapore and CN-Hong Kong regions.
• An auto launch group can create ECSs across AZs, but not across regions.
• You can specify only one launch template for each auto launch group. However, you can add instance specifications and AZs to the instance configuration to build a compute cluster across multiple AZs and specifications.
• Auto launch groups support pay-per-use and spot pricing (spot mode) billing.
  

  After a spot ECS is purchased, if the market price is higher than the maximum price you are willing to pay or the inventory resources are insufficient, the spot ECS will be reclaimed. Back up data when using such ECSs. For details about how to back up data, see Backing Up an ECS.

Prerequisites

A launch template has been created. When you use auto launch groups to purchase ECSs, the image, network, and security groups in the launch template are used as the configuration source. For details, see Creating a Launch Template.

Using a Launch Template to Purchase ECSs (On the Buy ECS Page)

1. Go to the Custom Config page.
   Figure 1 Custom config
   

2. Set Launch Template.
   By default, Not required is selected. If you want to use the parameters preset in a launch template to quickly configure ECSs, select Launch Template.

   Figure 2 Launch template
   

   1. Select a template region from the drop-down list.
   2. Select a launch template from the drop-down list.

      After you select a launch template, the system automatically presets the ECS purchase parameters based on the configuration information in the launch template.

   3. In the Configuration Summary area on the right of the page, view the preset parameters.
3. Modify the purchase parameters.

   Set the parameters that are not preset in the template or modify the preset parameters based on your service requirements.

   For example, change Login Mode to Password and set a password.

   For details about the purchase parameters, see Purchasing an ECS in Custom Config Mode.

4. Compare parameter settings.

   After the configuration is complete, click Compare in the Configuration Summary area to view details about the current configuration and the selected launch template configuration.

   You can enable Show only differences to view only the differences between the current configuration and the selected launch template configuration.

5. In the Configuration Summary area on the right of the page, confirm the configuration details.
6. Read and agree to the service statement, and click Submit to complete the ECS purchase.

   After an ECS is created, it is started by default. You can view the created ECS on the ECS list page.

Using a Launch Template to Purchase ECSs (On the Launch Templates Page)

1. Go to the Launch Templates page.
2. In the launch template list, locate the target template and click Buy ECS in the Operation column.
   The Buy ECS page is displayed.

   Figure 3 Launch template list
   
3. View the preset purchase parameters.

   The system has automatically preset the ECS purchase parameters based on the configuration information in the launch template. You can view the parameter settings in the Configuration Summary area on the right.

4. Modify the purchase parameters.

   Set the parameters that are not preset in the template or modify the preset parameters based on your service requirements.

   For example, change Login Mode to Password and set a password.

   For details about the purchase parameters, see Purchasing an ECS in Custom Config Mode.

5. Compare parameter settings.

   After the configuration is complete, click Compare in the Configuration Summary area to view details about the current configuration and the selected launch template configuration.

   You can enable Show only differences to view only the differences between the current configuration and the selected launch template configuration.

6. In the Configuration Summary area on the right of the page, confirm the configuration details.
7. Read and agree to the service statement, and click Submit to complete the ECS purchase.

   After an ECS is created, it is started by default. You can view the created ECS on the ECS list page.

Using an Auto Launch Group to Purchase ECSs with Different Billing Modes and AZs

1. Go to the Auto Launch Groups page to create a group.
2. Set the group name, target capacity, and quantity.
   Figure 4 Configuring an auto launch group (1)
   

   Table 1 Parameters (1)

   Parameter	Description	Example
   Name	The name of an auto launch group. It can contain 1 to 64 characters. Only letters, digits, underscores (_), and hyphens (-) are allowed.	alg-example
   Target Capacity	The maximum total capacity of instances in an auto launch group. It determines the total compute delivered by the auto launch group. If you do not select Include pay-per-use ECSs, the target capacity only includes the maximum total capacity of spot ECSs. If you select Include pay-per-use ECSs, the target capacity is the maximum total capacity of both spot and pay-per-use ECSs. The capacity can be measured in either of the following methods: ECSs: limits the number of ECSs that can be created in an auto launch group. vCPUs: limits the total number of vCPUs of all ECSs in an auto launch group. NOTE: The measurement method of the pay-per-use ECSs in an auto launch group is the same as that configured for the target capacity. After an auto launch group is created, the measurement method cannot be changed.	ECSs: 5
   Quantity	Displayed only when Include pay-per-use ECSs is selected. It specifies the maximum capacity of pay-per-use ECSs in an auto launch group. The value must be less than or equal to the target capacity. Pay-per-use ECSs can ensure the minimum compute of an auto launch group.	3

3. Set the launch template, ECS configuration, and optimization policy.
   Figure 5 Configuring an auto launch group (2)
   

   Table 2 Parameters (2)

   Parameter	Description	Example
   Launch Template	Select a launch template and version as the configuration source for instances in the auto launch group. You can expand details to view the configuration of the selected launch template.	alg-example
   ECS Configuration	Specifies the AZ and specifications in the launch template. You can add and customize configurations for multiple instances. You are advised to select different AZs and instance specifications to improve the resource delivery success rate.	AZ1, s7.medium.2
   Optimize for	Specifies the policy for allocating instances. Lowest price: The auto launch group will create the least expensive ECSs possible. Compute balancing: The auto launch group will prioritize balancing compute loads by creating ECSs distributed across multiple AZs as evenly as possible. High specifications: The auto launch group creates ECSs with the highest specifications possible. If you have configured a target number of ECSs, ECSs with more vCPUs will be prioritized and if the target is vCPUs, then that target will be met with as few ECSs as possible.	Lowest price

4. Set the delivery type, start and end time, and other parameters.
   Figure 6 Configuring an auto launch group (3)
   

   Table 3 Parameters (3)

   Parameter	Description	Example
   Delivery Type	Specifies the delivery type of an auto launch group. Single use: The auto launch group only attempts to create ECSs to meet the target capacity when it is started, but will not create ECSs again even if the target capacity is not reached. Continuous: The auto launch group monitors the target and current capacity in real time and continues to create ECSs until the total target capacity is reached. NOTE: Auto launch groups of the single use delivery type do not support configuration modifications after being created. Auto launch groups of the continuous delivery type support partial configuration modifications. For details, see Modifying an Auto Launch Group.	Single use
   Start	Specifies the time when the auto launch group will start to launch ECSs. Immediately: The auto launch group starts to launch ECSs immediately after the group is created. Custom: You can specify when the auto launch group starts to launch ECSs.	Immediately
   End	Specifies the time when the auto launch group expires. You can set both the start time and the end time to define the validity period of the group. Never expire: The auto launch group does not expire. Custom: You can specify when the auto launch group expires. The specified end time cannot be earlier than the start time. Once the specified end time is reached, the system automatically deletes the auto launch group.	Never expire
   Global Maximum Price	Select Maximum Price and set the maximum price of spot ECSs in the auto launch group. The value must be greater than 0. If the market price of a spot ECS in the group exceeds the global maximum price, the spot ECS will be deleted. If both the specific maximum price of a spot ECS and the global maximum price are set, the specific maximum price of the spot ECS will be used.	0.12
   ECS Deletion Settings	Delete ECSs When Auto Launch Group Expires: specifies whether to automatically delete ECSs in the group when the group expires. If the end time is set to Never expire, this parameter setting is invalid. Selected: When the group expires, ECSs in the group will be automatically deleted. Deselected: When the group expires, ECSs in the group will be automatically removed from the group but will not be deleted. Delete ECSs When Target Capacity Is Exceeded: specifies whether to automatically delete excess ECSs when the group's current capacity exceeds the target capacity. Selected: When the group's current capacity exceeds the target capacity, ECSs that exceed the target capacity will be automatically deleted. Deselected: When the group's current capacity exceeds the target capacity, ECSs that exceed the target capacity will be automatically removed from the group but will not be deleted. NOTE: The measure method of the current capacity is the same as that of the target capacity. If the measure method is ECSs, the current capacity is the total number of ECSs in the group. If the measure method is vCPUs, the current capacity is the total number of vCPUs in the group. You can view the ECSs that are not deleted on the ECS list page. To stop billing, manually delete them.	Delete ECSs When Auto Launch Group Expires Delete ECSs When Target Capacity Is Exceeded

5. After the settings are complete, click Create Now to create an auto launch group.

   After the auto launch group is created, it will start to launch ECSs at the specified time.

   You can view the created auto launch group on the auto launch group list page and click its name to view its basic information and the ECSs in the group. You can also view the created ECSs on the ECS list page.

Follow-up Procedure

• Connecting to an ECS

  You can connect to an ECS in multiple ways. For details, see Login Overview (Windows) and Login Overview (Linux).

• Initializing an EVS data disk

  If you created a data disk when creating an ECS, initialize the data disk first before using it. For details, see Initializing Data Disks.

• Using an ECS

  After purchasing an ECS, you can build environments, websites, or applications on it. For details, see Best Practices Summary.

• Managing auto launch groups

  You can view, modify, or delete auto launch groups as needed. For details, see Managing Auto Launch Groups.

• Managing launch templates

  You can view or delete launch templates as needed. For details, see Managing Launch Templates.