What it does
OCI Compute provisions virtual-machine or bare-metal instances. In the Console, create an instance by choosing basic details, security, networking, and storage; the documented workflow also supports CLI and API creation. Configure a shape, image, compartment, placement, and VCN, then connect over SSH or RDP as appropriate. Flexible VM shapes let you set OCPUs and memory for the workload.
OCI Compute spans general-purpose VMs, burstable capacity, specialized shapes, and dedicated bare-metal servers. The instance workflow exposes network and security setup instead of hiding it behind an application deployment layer. On-demand compute is billed by the second, and the service is eligible for Always Free resources within the documented limits.
Capacity availability is not guaranteed for large on-demand launches, and preemptible instances can be reclaimed when capacity is needed. Check service limits and the target shape before relying on a large launch or a preemptible machine for a persistent workload.
Strengths
- Offers both virtual machines and dedicated bare-metal instances, plus flexible shapes and specialized workload families.
- The launch flow supports Console, CLI, and API and includes security, network, and storage configuration.
- Compute is eligible for OCI Always Free resources.
Watch out for
- Capacity availability is not guaranteed for large on-demand launches.
- Preemptible instances can be terminated when capacity is reclaimed; quotas and service limits apply.
Best for
- Teams that need configurable cloud VMs or dedicated bare-metal servers.
- Workloads needing shape flexibility, VCN networking, or automated provisioning.
Sources
- Overview of the Compute Service (Oct 25, 2026)
- Creating an Instance (Oct 25, 2026)
- Cloud Price List | Oracle (Oct 25, 2026)