Cloud Architects and DevOps Engineers
Architecting a new cloud environment and selecting VM instances based on workload requirements
Use cases
About
The Machine types mind map template provides a technical breakdown of cloud computing infrastructure, specifically focusing on Google Cloud Compute Engine architectures. This 108-node cheat sheet categorizes virtual machine families into distinct functional groups including 'General purpose', 'Compute optimized', and 'Memory optimized' to help architects select the right hardware for specific workloads. It details critical networking constraints, such as the 10 Gbps external internet traffic approximation and the relationship between machine types and maximum egress rates. By mapping out the differences between N1, N2, and E2 families, this 'Machine types template' serves as a decision-making framework for balancing price-performance ratios and resource-intensive application requirements.
Terms and ConditionsWhen to use this template
Students and IT Professionals
Preparing for a Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect certification exam
FinOps Specialists and IT Managers
Optimizing cloud spend by comparing price-performance ratios of different machine families
How to use this template
Step 1
Open the cloud architecture file
Download and open the .xmind file in Xmind to view the full hierarchy of machine families and networking rules.
Step 2
Filter by workload requirements
Navigate to the specific branch such as 'Compute optimized' or 'Shared core' that matches your current project needs.
Step 3
Customize for your project
Add sub-nodes to record your specific instance choices, pricing estimates, or regional availability for your chosen machine types.
Frequently asked questions
According to the template, N1 represents the first generation of general-purpose machines, while N2 is the second generation offering flexible memory, CPU sizing, and overall performance improvements. N2 types do not support GPUs and are restricted to select zones.
The template specifies that while inbound traffic isn't artificially capped, capacity planning should assume a maximum of 10 Gbps for external internet traffic. Maximum egress rates are strictly dependent on the specific machine type selected for the VM.
You should use 'Memory-optimized' types for memory-intensive workloads. These configurations offer a significantly higher memory-per-core ratio compared to other families, making them suitable for large databases or in-memory analytics.
Yes, the template notes that families like E2 and N2 support 'Custom' machine types, allowing you to define specific vCPU and memory configurations to control software licensing costs or meet unique application demands.
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