How to use the Public Cloud interface

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Free trial: Create your first Public Cloud project and get $200 free credit[1]. Get started now!

You have just created your Public Cloud project, and you would like to find out more about the user interface in the OVHcloud Control Panel.

Requirements

A Public Cloud project

OVHcloud Control Panel Access

Direct link: Public Cloud projects
Navigation path: Public Cloud > Select your project

Instructions

Once you have created your first Public Cloud project, you will be redirected to the main Public Cloud interface.

Your Public Cloud project

Since you can manage multiple projects according to your quotas, the name and ID of each project remains visible at all times, regardless of the screen you are viewing. This lets you know which environment you are working in. You can find it at any time in the left-hand menu.

The ID may be required when using the CLI, for certain support requests, etc. You can copy it by clicking the icon to its right.

You can change the project name via the Settings tab. Enter a new name, then click on Update.

Section	Options description
Compute	This section allows you to launch instances, which are cloud servers available on demand.
Storage	Here you will find various storage solutions, each tailored to specific needs.
Network	This section allows you to connect your Public Cloud resources to each other and to other OVHcloud products.
Containers & Orchestration	This section offers tools to automate your architectures and improve flexibility.
Databases & Analytics	These services help you manage your Big Data and data analysis challenges.
AI & Machine Learning	Here you will find OVHcloud tools dedicated to artificial intelligence.
Management Interfaces	A single link to the Horizon interface.
Identity, Security & Operations	Here you will find security-based tools, such as Key Management Service.
Settings	This section allows you to configure and manage aspects of the project.

Shortcuts

On the project home page, the center of the screen provides shortcuts for quick access to the most useful configuration wizards and guides.

Assistance for the creation of resources

For each resource you want to create, you will be accompanied by a configuration wizard that, step by step, allows you to set up the resource according to your needs.

Most of the time, you will have to choose the location of the resource, the model, some customizable settings, and (in some cases) the billing method.

Management tools

In your Public Cloud project, several management tools are available to configure your resources, users, and settings. You can access them from the bottom-left menu. The tools are grouped into two main sections: Management Interfaces, which contains the link to the Horizon interface, and Settings, which includes all the project configuration options (users, quotas, SSH, billing, contacts, etc.).

Menu entry	Description
Horizon	This is the graphical interface usually available on OpenStack. It is not altered, which allows users who are used to this interface to easily navigate it.
Users & Roles	Allows you to create users and assign them a role. These users can also access the APIs or the Horizon interface directly. For example, you can create a user for your standard maintenance operations and a user for your automation tools, such as Terraform.
Quota & Regions	This tool allows you to control the locations and resource limits available on your project. Quotas: Based on certain criteria (number of bills already paid, use of other OVHcloud products), our system sets quotas (limits) on the number of resources you can create, to avoid any outstanding amounts. By default, the system increases your quotas automatically when certain criteria are met. However, you can manually increase a quota from this tool. Regions: Public Cloud is available in several locations around the United States, including OVHcloud data centers in Vint Hill, Virginia, and Hillsboro, Oregon, as well as several Local Zones.
SSH Keys	A tool that allows you to manage your SSH keys in a centralized way.
Billing Control	Since the Public Cloud is based on pay-as-you-go, invoices are issued at the end of the month. In this menu, you can track your current usage, see a forecast for the next invoice, and see your previous invoices.
Savings Plans	This is a pricing model that offers discounts on specific resources when you opt for a commitment period of 12 or 36 months.
Project settings	With this tool, you can configure the project’s general settings, such as its name, its configuration as a "default project for the account", HDS compatibility, or delete your Public Cloud project.

Services management

Info

In this section, we present an overview of the different service management options offered by OVHcloud: the OVHcloud Control Panel, Horizon, and the OpenStack API. Each of these tools has been designed to meet specific needs according to your level of expertise, management preferences, and performance and customization requirements.

The matrix below compares the key features of each tool to help you choose the solution best suited to your needs. Whether you're a beginner, intermediate user, or automation expert, this comparison will help you better understand the benefits, ease of use, skill levels required, and scalability of each tool.

Criteria/ Characteristics	OVHcloud Control Panel	Horizon	OpenStack API
Key benefits	Intuitive interface, ideal for quick start-up.	Increased control for experienced users, with an advanced view of parameters.	Complete automation, with seamless integration with other tools.
Skill level required	Accessible to all, ideal for beginners or simple needs	Intermediate, requires some expertise (System Administrators, Cloud Engineers, etc.)	Advanced, requires scripting/API skills (Cloud Architects, DevOps Engineers, Automation Experts)
Ease of use	Intuitive and accessible	Advanced but visual	Technical
Customization	Low - Ideal for fast, standard configurations, with limited advanced control.	Medium - Graphical interface offering advanced settings (network, storage, etc.), albeit restricted by the user interface.	Very high - Virtually complete customization via API, with the ability to create scripts, automated workflows and customized architectures.
Performance and scalability	Limited performance and basic scalability. Suitable for small or non-critical deployments. Scalability is generally manual and slower. Ideal for static environments or small projects.	Average performance with improved scalability management via GUI. Faster scalability than in the OVHcloud Control Panel, but limited by the interface. Suitable for medium-sized projects or those requiring scalability.	Optimal performance and complete scalability. Enables rapid, automated mass deployments via scripts or third-party tools. Ideal for dynamic infrastructures, heavy loads and environments requiring high elasticity. Recommended for mission-critical architectures.
Perimeters of use (Compute)	Simplified creation and management of virtual machines (VMs). Resize VMs after creation (hot or cold modification of the flavor model, depending on available resources). Select standard VM configurations (RAM, CPU, storage). Management of essential actions: start, stop, and delete VMs. Access to snapshots for fast backups and simplified restores. Assign and manage Floating IP addresses. Creation and basic administration of additional disks. Essential resource monitoring (CPU, memory, storage).	Advanced access management: support for role-based access control (RBAC) for secure multi-user management. Advanced network administration: creation and management of complex private networks associated with VMs (internal networks, subnets). Deploy VMs with specific network configurations, including management of multiple network interfaces. Use of customized images for VM creation, as an alternative to the standard images offered by OVHcloud. Integration of pre-configured workflows via Horizon to automate deployment and configuration.	Complete automation: all actions available in the OVHcloud Control Panel and Horizon can be carried out via the API, with the option of automating and scripting them. Infrastructure deployment in Infrastructure as Code (IaC) mode, using tools such as Terraform, Ansible or customized scripts. Integration with CI/CD pipelines for automated deployments (e.g. integration with GitLab CI). Advanced resource quota management (number of CPUs, total RAM, etc.). Dynamic scalability: automatic adjustment of instances according to load via API or scripts. Monitoring and collection of customized metrics via API, offering greater granularity than Horizon or OVHcloud Control Panel interfaces.
Perimeters of use (Network)	Create and manage private networks. Association of Floating IP addresses and additional IP addresses. Basic Routing configuration.	Advanced management of security rules via Security Groups. Visualization of network topologies for simplified management. Full IPv6 subnet support for modern connectivity. Configuration of QoS (Quality of Service) policies to prioritize network resources.	Access to all Horizon and OVHcloud Control Panel functionalities. Create customized routes for more flexible network management. Precise configuration of QoS (Quality of Service) policies. Advanced VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol) management to ensure router redundancy. Automation of network actions through scripting (Infrastructure as Code). Integration with SDN (Software-Defined Networking) solutions for agile network management.
Perimeters of use (Storage & backup)	Create and manage storage volumes: Object Storage, Block Storage, and File Storage. Basic automatic backup (snapshots) of volumes, with the option of restoring them. Association of storage volumes with instances for simplified access. Object Storage (Swift) containers to organize data. Visualize volume status and used storage space. Add and manage files in Object Storage.	Advanced snapshot management: retention, duplication, and other options for precise backup control. Detailed multi-attach management for greater flexibility. Creation and management of scheduled backups with customizable backup policies. Monitoring of storage quota usage for optimal monitoring of available space.	Features accessible via Horizon and the OVHcloud Control Panel. Integration and automation via scripts (Infrastructure as Code) for seamless management. Advanced configuration of network shares (NFS, CIFS) for greater flexibility in file organization. Precise management of object metadata in Object Storage for optimal data control. Advanced configuration of object replication and versioning for high availability and complete version management. Direct access to Swift API for seamless integration with third-party tools. Customized workflows to automate and efficiently manage backup processes.

Go further

Browse all the Public Cloud - General information guides.

Browse the rest of the OVHcloud US documentation for guides on our other products and services.

Learn more about Public Cloud on the OVHcloud US website.

[1]: Receive $200.00 (USD) in Public Cloud credits ("Public Cloud Credits") when you create your first Public Cloud infrastructure project. Offer applies only to Public Cloud services purchased from OVHcloud datacenters in the United States. Offer available only to customers who, at the time when the Public Cloud Credits are applied, are not purchasing Public Cloud services from OVHcloud and who purchase at least $0.99 (USD) Public Cloud services from OVHcloud. No code is required. The Public Cloud Credits will be added to eligible accounts within 30 days of OVHcloud’s receipt of the $0.99 for your purchase of Public Cloud credits. The Public Cloud Credits are valid for 90 days fro the day the credit has been applied. The time of order placement shall be determined by OVHcloud’s time of registering the corresponding order. Offer is subject to availability. The Public Cloud Credits will automatically be applied to your next bill(s) up to a maximum amount of $200.00. Any unused portion of the Public Cloud Credits will expire. The Public Cloud Credits have no monetary value, and cannot be exchanged, transferred, or refunded. Once the Public Cloud Credits are exhausted or expired, your account will be debited in accordance with OVHcloud’s billing guide. Void where prohibited.