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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

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Instance Card Interface

Instances Page

Each instance card displays comprehensive information about your rental:

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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

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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

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Instance Operations

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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.

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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

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Additional Controls

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

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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).

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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

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Troubleshooting Instance States

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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

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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

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Instance Stuck on “Connecting”

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

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Machine Shows “Offline”

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

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Important Considerations

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Data Persistence

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

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Contract Expiration

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

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Security

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

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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.

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Common Questions

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Can I run Docker inside my instance?

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

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Do I pay for “Loading” instances?

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

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Can I view past instances?

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

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

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

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Can I run VMs or bare metal?

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