Working with Compute Engine Windows Instances

Libraries: If you want this lab, consider one of these libraries.
Cloud

Working with Compute Engine Windows Instances

Compute Engine VM instances can utilize a wide range of boot disks; Google Cloud currently offers well over 50 disk images to choose from. Cloud computing professionals must be adept in spinning up a variety of operating systems, including Windows server. In this hands-on lab, you’ll experience the creation of a Windows-based Compute Engine VM instance, set up an IIS server, and push your first web page live to confirm the server’s operation.

Get started Contact sales

Lab Info

Level

Beginner

Last updated

Oct 08, 2025

Duration

45m

Challenge

Create a Compute Engine VM instance.
1. From the main navigation, choose Compute Engine > VMs.
2. In the VM Instances area, click Create.
3. With New VM instance chosen from the options on the left, configure your instance:
- In the name field, provide a relevant name using hyphens, like la-windows-1.
- Keep the suggested Region and Zone.
- Use Series: N1 and Machine type: n1-standard-1
- In the Boot Disk section, click Change and select Windows Server 2019 Datacenter, Server with Desktop Experience from the list; click Select.
- Under Firewall, choose the Allow HTTP traffic option.
1. Click Create.
Challenge

Set Windows password.
1. From the RDP options, click Set Windows password.
2. In the dialog, confirm your username is correct and click Set.
3. Copy the supplied password and click Close.
Challenge

Launch RDP window.
1. Launch the RDP window by using one of the following methods:
  
  If you're on a Windows system, click RDP.
  
  If you're on a Mac using Chrome in a standard window, first install the Chrome RDP extension, and then click RDP.
  
  If you're on a Mac using another browser or Incognito window, from the App Store, download and install the latest version of the Microsoft Remote Desktop app. Then, choose Download the RDP file from the RDP options and open the file.
Challenge

Install IIS.
1. From the Windows Start menu, right-click on Windows Powershell and choose Run as administrator.
2. In the PowerShell window, enter the following commands to set install IIS, starting with:
  
  import-module servermanager
3. Set up the web server:
  
  add-windowsfeature web-server -includeallsubfeature
4. Create the index.html page:
  
  echo '<!doctype html><html><body><h1>Greetings from Linux Academy!</h1></body></html>' > C:\inetpub\wwwroot\index.html
Challenge

Test your page.
1. From the Compute Engine VM page, click the External link for your Windows VM instance.
2. Review the page in your browser.

About the author

Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

Real skill practice before real-world application

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Learn by doing

Engage hands-on with the tools and technologies you’re learning. You pick the skill, we provide the credentials and environment.

Follow your guide

All labs have detailed instructions and objectives, guiding you through the learning process and ensuring you understand every step.

Turn time into mastery

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you take time to practice. Hands-on labs set you up for success to make those skills stick.