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Overview

The Instances page (cloud.vast.ai/instances) is your central hub for managing rented instances. From here you can:
  • View instance status and information
  • Start, stop, and destroy instances
  • Access connection details
  • Monitor resource usage
  • Transfer data between instances

Instance Card Interface

Instances Page

Each instance card displays comprehensive information about your rental:

Main Status Button

Open button

The main button (left side of card) shows instance status and provides quick access: Status Indicators:
  • Open: Instance loaded, click to access via browser
  • Connect: Instance loaded, click for SSH info
  • Inactive: Stopped but data preserved (can restart if GPU available)
  • Offline: Machine disconnected from Vast servers
  • Scheduling: Attempting to restart (waiting for GPU availability)
  • Creating: Vast initiating instance creation
  • Loading: Downloading Docker image
  • Connecting: Docker running but connection not verified

Instance Information

ID numbers

ID Information:
  • Instance ID - Unique identifier for your instance
  • Host/Datacenter ID - Provider identification
  • Machine ID - Physical machine identifier
Hardware Details:
  • GPU model and count
  • CPU and RAM allocation
  • Storage capacity
  • Network configuration
Contract Info:
  • Instance age (time since creation)
  • Expiry date (contract end time)
  • Remaining duration

Instance Operations

Starting, Stopping, and Destroying

  • Stop Button (square icon): Pauses instance, preserves data, continues storage charges
  • Destroy Button (trash icon): Permanently deletes instance and all data
  • Restart Button (play icon): Appears when stopped, attempts to reclaim GPU
Important: Stopped instances continue incurring storage charges. Destroy instances when no longer needed to avoid ongoing costs.

Restart Behavior

Play button

When restarting a stopped instance:
  1. Instance enters SCHEDULING status
  2. Waits for GPU availability
  3. If stuck >30 seconds, GPU likely rented by another user
  4. Cancel scheduling by clicking stop again
  5. Consider creating new instance if GPU unavailable

Additional Controls

  • Label Instance - Add custom name for identification
  • Reboot Instance - Restart without data loss
  • View Logs - Access Docker container logs

Data Management

Data movement

  • Copy Data - Transfer between your instances (see Data Movement)
  • Cloud Sync - Sync with cloud providers (see Cloud Sync)
Use Cloud Sync only on trusted datacenters (indicated by Secure icon).

Connection Quick Reference

For detailed connection instructions, see Connect to Instances:
  • SSH button - Shows SSH command
  • Open button - Launches web UI
  • IP/Ports button - Network information

Troubleshooting Instance States

Instance Stuck on “Loading”

  • Normal for 30 seconds with cached images
  • Can take hours with slow internet/large images
  • Not charged during loading
  • Try machines with faster internet

Instance Stuck on “Scheduling”

When stopped instances try to restart:
  • GPU may be reassigned to other users
  • High-priority jobs block restart
  • May wait indefinitely for GPU availability
  • Consider copying data to new instance

Instance Stuck on “Connecting”

  • Port configuration may be broken
  • Report the machine
  • Try different machine

Machine Shows “Offline”

  • Lost connection to Vast servers
  • Often internet/power issues
  • Host notified automatically
  • May be maintenance or unforeseen problems

Important Considerations

Data Persistence

  • Stopped instances: Data preserved, storage charges continue
  • Destroyed instances: All data permanently deleted
  • Before destroying: Copy important data or sync to cloud

Contract Expiration

Expired instances may be deleted 48 hours after expiration. Expired instances cannot restart. Retrieve your data promptly.

Security

  • Hosts can technically access files on their machines
  • For sensitive data, use verified datacenters
  • Implement encryption for critical data

IP Addresses

Some instances have dynamic IPs that may change. Check IP type via the IP button on instance card. For static IPs, filter by “Static IP Address” when searching.

Common Questions

Can I run Docker inside my instance?

No, instances are already Docker containers. Docker-in-Docker is not supported.

Do I pay for “Loading” instances?

No, you’re not charged while instances show “Loading” status.

Can I view past instances?

No, destroyed instances cannot be viewed. Recent template history is preserved for configuration reference.

Why is my machine location showing only ”, US”?

This means geolocation couldn’t determine the state. It’s not an indication of reliability.

Can I run VMs or bare metal?

Currently only Docker containers are supported. VM and bare-metal options planned for future.
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