---
description: "Deploy, list, start, stop, and delete Verda compute resources from the command line, with flags for hardware, images, storage, and your own startup scripts."
revision_date: 04.08.2026
---

# Instances

Use the Verda CLI to create, manage, and connect to GPU and CPU instances. The CLI supports both an interactive wizard and flag-based commands for automation.

***

#### Create an instance

**Interactive mode**

Launch the creation wizard:

```bash
verda vm create
```

The wizard guides you through selecting a location, instance type, OS image, SSH keys, and volumes.

**Non-interactive mode**

Specify all options as flags:

```bash
verda vm create \
  --kind gpu \
  --instance-type 1V100.6V \
  --location FIN-01 \
  --os ubuntu-24.04-cuda-13.0-open-docker \
  --os-volume-size 100 \
  --hostname gpu-runner
```

To wait until the instance is ready before returning:

```bash
verda vm create --hostname "training-01" --wait
```

**Create from a template**

If you have a saved template, create an instance from it:

```bash
verda vm create --from my-template
```

See [Templates](https://docs.verda.com/cli/templates/) for how to create and manage templates.

***

#### List instances

View all your instances:

```bash
verda vm list
```

For JSON output (useful for scripting):

```bash
verda vm list -o json
```

***

#### Describe an instance

Get detailed information about a specific instance:

```bash
verda vm describe <instance-id>
```

***

#### Check availability

See which instance types are available in a specific location:

```bash
verda availability --location FIN-01
```

Filter by spot instances:

```bash
verda availability --spot
```

***

#### Instance actions

The common actions have shortcut commands that take the instance ID (or hostname):

```bash
verda vm start <instance-id>       # start an offline instance
verda vm shutdown <instance-id>    # graceful shutdown
verda vm hibernate <instance-id>   # save state, stop billing, resume later
verda vm delete <instance-id>      # delete (alias: verda vm rm)
```

For force shutdown — and as a flag-driven alternative to the shortcuts — use `verda vm action` with `--id` and `--action`:

```bash
verda vm action --id <instance-id> --action force_shutdown
verda vm action --id <instance-id> --action shutdown
```

`--action` accepts `start`, `shutdown`, `force_shutdown`, `hibernate`, and `delete`. Run `verda vm action` with no flags on a terminal to pick a VM and action interactively.

!!! warning
    Deleting an instance is permanent. The CLI asks for confirmation before proceeding (pass `--yes` to skip it in scripts).

***

#### SSH into an instance

Connect to a running instance over SSH:

```bash
verda ssh <instance-id-or-hostname>
```

Specify a user or key:

```bash
verda ssh <instance-id> --user ubuntu --key ~/.ssh/my-key
```

Port forwarding is supported by passing arguments after `--`:

```bash
verda ssh <instance-id> -- -L 8888:localhost:8888
```

***

#### Browse instance types

List all available instance types with specs and pricing:

```bash
verda instance-types
```

Filter by GPU or CPU:

```bash
verda instance-types --gpu
verda instance-types --cpu
```

Show spot pricing:

```bash
verda instance-types --spot
```

***

#### Browse OS images

List available operating system images:

```bash
verda images
```

Filter by compatibility with a specific instance type:

```bash
verda images --type 1V100.6V
```

***

#### List locations

See all available datacenter locations:

```bash
verda locations
```

***

#### Command aliases

The `vm` command also accepts `instance` and `instances` as aliases:

```bash
verda instance list      # same as verda vm list
verda instances list     # same as verda vm list
```