The queue
If no machine of your size is free, you join a first-come queue for that size. Waiting costs nothing, and you can cancel any time.
When your turn comes
- Auto-start (default): the instance starts and we email you. Billing starts when it is running.
- Hold for confirmation: we keep the machine for you for 15 minutes and you confirm before billing begins. If you do not confirm in time, your place passes to the next person.
If your balance is too low when your turn comes, you are skipped, you are notified, and your position is kept once.
Multi-node sizesPlanned
Two-node and four-node instances need machines that are cabled together, so they queue separately. When a multi-node request is waiting at the front of its queue, machines freed in that group are held for it first.
ReservationsPlanned
A reservation is a prepaid block of one to five days at a daily price that is lower than the on-demand rate. You pay up front, the instance starts immediately or as soon as a machine is free, and it is deleted automatically when the time is up.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see my place in the queue?
Yes. The console shows your queued instances and their position for each size.
What if I do not want to be billed in the middle of the night?
Choose hold for confirmation when you launch. Billing only starts after you confirm.